Re: Bearded Irises in Florida

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Lack of increase your problem? Most interesting! A lot of content has whizzed me by elsewhere but I don't think I have heard that specific matter raised. Enlightening in that none of us are talking on the basis of first hand experience. Granted only about 5 people have posted. The focus has been on presumed inability to bloom based on theory. That there will be insufficient vernalization/chilling to trigger bloom. I'm neutral since I am not fluent on the science end of it. I want to get the input of people who actually grow irises in the presumed no man's land.

Wish I knew a good trick. lol - it is funny I am even that interested in z8/9 stuff since I garden in z6b. Looking over the TX study there doesn't seem to be any significant pattern of bloom but poor increase. The other way around yes, very much so. But again, still plenty that both bloomed and grew well. These are old irises however, thin! gs from the early 1930's and back. Are your underperforming irises newer things? If your don't mind please look at the studies list at the end and see if there is anything you have tried.

After presumed inability to bloom, the impression I get from from folks is that it will be disease that causes failure. Interested in your comments on that. I have no z8b/9 experience to back me up but I am somewhat skeptical on that front too. I can't see how disease pressure in SE z8b and z9a can be all that drastically different than z8a where a decent number of irises apparently fare well. Dallas is in z8a and it has been home to AIS conventions. I grow things from a NC z8a hybridizer. If a decent number hang through disease in 8za then some should be able to do so further south I would think.

Shaub Dunkley