Re: Re: HYB: long chill requirements?

 

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Agree with you Paul.
Have grown Aphylla "Wine Red" here in the Finger Lakes of Upstate NY ( approx. 42.5 N latitude ) for years with no winter survival issues. Gets cold here - with wind - little cover - no rot or desication - still survives. Bloom consistency is another story. Like Aphylla a lot, but bloom is hit and miss season to season.
 
If I recall correctly, Aphylla emerges later than the medeterranian derivative species and hybrids in spring. Which is to say the Meds. look "less dormant / less perennial" which is to be expected, deriving from a more southernly climate. The Meds. also flower later than Aphylla here, despite their earlier start in spring, and also maintain summer growth longer following bloom. They also re-initiate next years bloom cycle earlier, in August, by way of starting new rhizome multiplication and growth with onset of late summer rains. I mention the Med. growth pattern only to draw contrast with Aphylla. Aphylla, here, shows distinct differences. Emerges late in spring, flowers earlier, goes summer dormant faster, and almost completely dormant by mid-summer. Foliage even separates cleanly from the rhizome. All this taken together suggests a northern climate derivative  - better northern adaptation than southern.
 
Personally think the inconsistent Aphylla bloom is due to inconsistent rhizome multiplication and growth rate in late summer / early fall when next years blooms are being formed. It stays dormant too long mid-summer and starts rhizome multiplication and sizing up, too late. Rhizomes may take two or three years to come to bloom. They don't seem to rot or get disease, just sleep too long !
 
In a way this is counter-intuitive, but one survival strategy of perennials is to emerge late to avoid killing spring freezes, flower fast and furiously to complete the life cycle in a short season location, and harden off sufficiently to survive the next winter. Then enforced dormancy has to hold the plant in suspended animation until the next safe spring emergence point is reached.  Aphylla seems to be trying to do that here.
 
A few old labelled TB "reds" show similar tendencies which tempt one to think they may have some Aphylla ancestry in the family closet.
 
I'm not sure what environmental stimulus (chilling ?) drives these growth patterns. Temperature likely involved, but could be more complex. Fairly safe to bet genetic component of response is under multi-genic control.
 
For What Its Worth.
irisman646
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: p*@mindspring.com [iris-species]
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: HYB: long chill requirements?

 

Both times I have tried to grow aphylla it was in silty clay soil here in Indianapolis, two different locations.  They never bloomed and evenytually disappeared, not from rot but never grew enough each year to survive.  They looked like they were in a dormant stage most of the growing season.  One was I. aphylla 'Ostry White' the other was 'Blueberry Philly' which is half 'Ostry White' .  Currently growing Baumunk's 2014 Intro 'Wine Dark Sea' which is (I. reichenbachii X I. aphylla), so we'll see.

Paul



-----Original Message-----
From: "'aclyburn17@frontier.com' aclyburn17@frontier.com [iris-species]"
Sent: Jan 20, 2015 10:59 AM
To: "iris-species@yahoogroups.com"
Subject: [iris-species] Re: HYB: long chill requirements?

 

Hello Everyone!
Can anyone tell me what sort of soil the Aphylla like and if they will grow in Indiana?

(I have clay soil but can amend the heck out of it or dig a pit and refill it with lighter soil if need be.)

Also:
I read with interest what Mr. Chapman said about Aphylla being used in breeding TB's.
What other species were used like this?
Thanks,
Anita Clyburn
Terre Haute, Indiana
I joined SIGNA in December.
























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