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

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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 tramatic 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