RE: Re: Forgot to include photo of Iris setosa?

Ken,

 

Thank you for your reply last month.  (I was out of town for while, so this is a much delayed reply.)

 

I was interested to see that Iris setosa lived through your hot summers with moisture. 

 

The other interesting comment was that it went dormant without cold.  It goes dormant (by far) earlier than any other iris here.  The rest of my perennial garden (of exotic to Alaska) is still green and growing when the I. setosa leaves are turning yellow (in late August or early September – when winter frosts used to start around here.)  I have long thought that they must be sensitive to the day length (or should I say night length) to signal the end of summer growing period.  Your comment seems to support that hypothesis.

 

I just love “talking irises” with you all. 

 

Thanks, Debbie

 

From: iris-species@yahoogroups.com [mailto:iris-species@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kenneth Walker
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 8:35 AM
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [iris-species] Re: Forgot to include photo of Iris setosa?

 

Hi Debby,

I grow both Iris tridentata and Iris setosa. I don't live in a cold climate, however. I'm in Concord, California about 30 miles inland from San Francisco. We expect occasional (usually light) frost the winter and have dry summers punctuated with spells of hot weather (highs 100F - 110F) lasting several days at a time. I grow both iris in planters that I try to keep them very damp (some planters have drainage holes part way up the sides). I try to give Iris setosa some afternoon shade. Iris setosa can be somewhat short lived, but otherwise does very well; it goes dormant without cold and blooms well. Iris tridentata is a bit less reliable at blooming, but does fairly well.

I have one I. tridentata from a nursery and several I grew from seeds that Vic contributed to SIGNA in 2003. I have some variety in bloom, but I don't have a white one!

Ken Walker

akdebshort wrote:

Joan, you have inspired me to try I. tridentata from the SIGNA seed exchange - if there is any offered this year.

Besides the beautiful ones grown by Vic in Florida, has anyone else grown or seen Iris tridentata grow anywhere else - especially in areas with cold winters?

In Alaska, Iris setosa is a very long-lived plant. Alaska has great summer growing conditions (for plants that do not like it hot) but our cold soils are our major limiting factor (besides short growing season for some plants.) Up here, Iris setosa have survived some very traumatic conditions from heavy equipment, periodic flooding by salt water, standing water, and very poor soils with a pH ranging from 5.3 (and maybe lower ???) to 6.8 (and maybe higher???) I think it is the summer heat (in other parts of the US) especially combined with drought that kills them. (I cannot even guess what effect soils with a high pH have on Iris setosa.)

Debbie

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