Re: Iris x norrisii

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Sean, Paige,

      Sean is right.  There is much variability in the Iris x norrisii strain of plants.  While those with more Iris domestica genes will look more toward that species, they are more likely to be suitable for growing in Florida.  Those with genes more toward Iris dichotma will not have a chance here.

      This part of Florida is odd in that while it can get surprisingly cold [I have seen 12 F] the chilling is not consistent and there are not enough chilling hours to venalize many types of Iris and other genera that are cold hardy.   I am seeing Iris domestica and the reddish Pardancanda like I have being grown more frequently around here with good results, but they need more shade than any of the literature says due to the high sun angle and intense summer heat. 

Mark A. Cook  

Dunnellon, Florida USA. 

There is a lot of potential variability for what conditions ×norrisii could grow in, because the parent species are quite different. Iris (Pardanthopsis) dichotoma is a northern species (Mongolia and Russia), while Iris domestica (Belamcanda chinensis) is southern (as far south as tropical SE Asia and the Philippines). Since (especially in the south) they can be grown to flowering from seed in one year, it would be easy to select seedlings for tolerating Florida winters. ×norrisii and dichotoma seeds require no cold dormancy. They *do* like summer heat just like beardeds, hence the difficulty in growing them well in the Pacific Northwest.

I would also hesitate to lump anything about the floral display of ×norrisii into one category. They have a ridiculous variety of colors, patterns, flower shapes, and number of blooms per stalk (think hundreds!), and of course bloom (here) in late July and August when no other irises are doing anything. The tall forms (~ 2+ meters) are open and airy, while the short forms (~0.3 m) put on a denser display of color. Very much worth figuring out how to grow well; certainly as much so as any bearded iris hybrid.

Sean Z

Zone 6a

SE Michigan