Re: Iris kaempferi mandschurica

Iris kaempferi is the species commonly refered to as japanese Irises. The current corrected scientific name is Iris ensata. This is not to be confused with the Iris ensata listed in older references and now is a synonym of Iris lactea. I am not familiar with a variety manschurica but Dr. George Rodionenko has selected plants that I believe were collected from this region that are cold hardy in St. Petersburg. Actually I suspect most Japanese Irises would be hardy to at least zone 4 and some beyond. Walter Marx was an american hybridizer that worked in Boring Montana so I am sure many of his plants experienced severe freezing weather. Contrary to popular belief Japanese Iris do not grow in water. This impression is given because the Japanese flood their growing fields at bloom time. It is believed by some that Japanese that have to suffer immersion year round are not as hardy as those grown under well-drained conditions.


----- Original Message -----
From: gardenersfriend@sasktel.net
To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 3:02:58 PM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
Subject: [iris-species] Iris kaempferi mandschurica

I wonder if someone could tell which iris this name once referred to.  It is in an quite an older book written for plants for the prairies.  In it, it states that the species kaempferi is not hardy on the prairies, but the variety? can be grown given suitable conditions.  I assume this refers to the species ensata, but variety mandshurica?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jim in Saskatoon

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