RE: Re: Iris pseudacorus

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I banned I. pseudacorus from my garden many, many years ago. It is an extremely obnoxious plant and definitely should not be allowed in interstate or intrastate commerce. I am familiar with wild populations along the Gulf coast from Louisiana through the Florida panhandle. Based on what I have observed in the field, a colony of these plants in moist or wet habitats will crowd out everything else, almost without exception. And, a colony will continue to expand in suitable habitat at an ever increasing rate from year to year. And, to add insult to injury it appears to me that in the extreme southern portion of it range in the US, I. pseudacorus is a shy bloomer unless the previous winter was unusually cold. I have no familiarity with I. pseudacorus hybrids but am dubious about the desirability of allowing their distribution. I agree with Mark A. Cookâ email statement:

âMy stance may be a bit unpopular, but here it goes...   I think that SIGNA needs to check out the law, and maybe communicate with the authorities in the states where Iris pseudacorus is illegal to sell, swap, or give away. 

     Once it is clearly known which plants would be legal and which ones would not be, then no longer give awards to plants that are illegal to grow in those states.  The problem is that once escaped into the wild, in a suitable habitat, Iris pseudacorus can crowd everything native out and make an impenetrable thicket.â

And, I agree with Sean Z. that SIGNA should develop a position on the subject and make a recommendation to the AIS relative to awards.

Vic