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Re: African Iris [1 Attachment]

 

This winter I have an Iris planifolia sprouting (see attached photo). I planted the seed at the end of 2011. This one is from Southern Spain, rather than Northern Africa. The seeds were labeled 'Spain Sierra de las nieves'. I found a web page of with a photo if I. planifolia from that area:

http://www.andaluciadiary.com/aromatic-mediterranean-walk-sierra-de-las-nieves/

By the way, our "Sierra" Mountains could use some snow. With the snow pack at 20% of normal, reservoirs low, and a wildfire in the middle of what should be our rainy season, the California governor has declared a state-wide drought.

Ken Walker
Concord, CA USA

On 1/16/2014 9:49 AM, Sean Zera wrote:
 
I've seen Dietes listed as USDA Zone 8 or 9, so I doubt I could grow them here in Michigan except as a houseplant. That part of South Carolina is subtropical, with abundant native palmetto trees. It does get occasional snow and hard freezes.

I forgot about Iris planifolia - the only Juno native to Europe or Africa. Almost assuredly not hardy here.

Sean Z
Zone 6a
SE Michigan


On Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 11:37 AM, Lars Høpfner <H*@privat.dk> wrote:
 

Thank you Sean,

The Dietes are really lovely. How much frost and snow can they take?

 

Med venlig hilsen / Kind regards

 

Lars Høpfner

Langengen 38, Svogerslev

4000  Roskilde

Denmark

 

Fra: i*@yahoogroups.com [mailto:i*@yahoogroups.com] På vegne af Sean Zera
Sendt: 15. januar 2014 20:43
Til: i*@yahoogroups.com
Emne: Re: [iris-species] African Iris [1 Attachment]

 

 

Genus Dietes from south Africa. English common names range from unhelpful (African Iris) to downright useless (Wild Iris). North Africa is home to Iris foetidissima, I. unguicularis and several species of subgenus Xiphium (the also-ineptly-named Dutch irises).

 

I saw a nice clump earlier this month in South Carolina. They're common landscape plants and the occasional clump has a flower stalk up this time of year, but this is the only time I've seen an entire clump in full bloom in the middle of winter there. I collected a few seeds from an old pod, if anyone's really interested in Dietes and wants to see if the trait is genetic.

 

Sean Z

 

On Wed, Jan 15, 2014 at 1:58 PM, Lars Høpfner <H*@privat.dk> wrote:

 

Hi Mark

It looks like you are growing I. unguicularis in pure sand – it that true?

 

Med venlig hilsen / Kind regards

 

Lars Høpfner

Langengen 38, Svogerslev

4000  Roskilde

Denmark

 

Fra: i*@yahoogroups.com [mailto:i*@yahoogroups.com] På vegne af Mark Cook
Sendt: 15. januar 2014 02:58
Til: i*@yahoogroups.com
Emne: [iris-species] African Iris [3 Attachments]

 

 

      Here are three looks at a bloom on African Iris today.  The flower is a bit battered because we had a big [but very welcome] storm early on.

Mark A. Cook

Dunnellon, Florida USA     

AHS Region 12    USDA Zone 8b

 



JPEG image

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