I agree probably with all that has been said. I do not think long chilling temperatures are necessarily the key. I am fairly certain it is more complex and not definitely cold dependent. I grew aphylla in St Louis and now in North Carolina. In NC I am zone 7. Aphylla blooms here but I can not say yet that it is reliable but no less so than in St Louis with zone 5. Its tendencies for rebloom make it valuable for hybridizing rebloomers. Years ago I grew iris timofejewii in St Louis and the first year it bloomed but the second year despite a cold winter it never started into growth. it just sat there until finally in summer it rotted. Aphylla comes out late in spring so perhaps the more important factor is cold or heat at the time it initiates growth.
----- Original Message -----
From: "gndavis@peoplepc.com [iris-species]" <iris-species@yahoogroups.com>
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2015 6:45:30 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: HYB: long chill requirements?
Interesting observations from Zone 3. Thanks for more northern information !
g.davis irisman646
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan & Marilyn Mason demason@tbaytel.net [iris-species]"
<iris-species@yahoogroups.com>
To: <iris-species@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2015 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: HYB: long chill requirements?
>I grew aphylla seeds by planting in the ground in late Oct. or just
> before the ground froze. They always came up well in late May. But once
> the ground freezes it stays frozen and snowcovered all winter, here. I
> watered seedling rows during dry weather in spring until they emerged
> and continued watering them if needed to get them established.
>
> Aphyllas I tried grew well in gravely topsoil / clay subsoil. They
> survive without cultivation for quite a few years competing with grass
> in thin soils. I don't think aphyllas would survive on their own in rich
> peaty clay soil at our new place. Grasses here grow 5' tall and would
> overwhelm them.
>
> The first time I grew an old local aphylla I treated it like a pet and
> watered it all summer. It kept growing and blooming a little the entire
> summer until frosts / late Sept. I never watered it again and it never
> bloomed all summer again.
>
> Aphyllas put on a good display here in late spring when cultivated. They
> don't grow much in dry summer weather, don't flower much if left
> uncultivated.
>
> Dan Mason zone 3, NW ON, Canada
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> On 1/20/2015 11:14 AM, Paul Archer pharcher@mindspring.com
> [iris-species] wrote:
>> 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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Bob Pries
Zone 7a
Roxboro, NC
(336)597-8805
