Sorry I missed the original question... but Ken's response caught my eye.
Iris tridentata does quite well here in Ohio (my garden). As do the
other "southern" irises... such as I. fulva, I. giganticaerulea, I.
nelsonii, etc.
Good luck!
Dennis in Cincy
Kenneth Walker wrote:
> 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
>>
>
