re: Pacific Coast Hybrids

Linda,
	I think Half Moon Bay should be an IDEAL climate for the PCI's
you purchased. If you have enough ocean influence to temper the heat of
summer then go ahead and plant them in full sun. More inland in CA we
allow for some high shade during part of the day. They will prefer soil
on the acid side with lots of organic matter - pure clay with bad
drainage can be a death sentence in my experience. Normally our rainfall
is enough in winter (they like it moist then) with some occasional
irrigation in summer (established clumps are very drought tolerant), and
should remain evergreen and fairly tidy all year round. If you want to
divide them do it in the Fall - October - when they start new root
growth, if the divisions do not show new white roots then soak them
continuously in a bucket until roots show before replanting. 

	Enjoy!
	
		I purchased some lovely Pacific Coast Hybrids at a local
native plant sale this weekend. The flowers are shades of peach and dark
purple, and the foliage is quite minimal, smaller than the leaves of
sisyrinchium.  I'm having trouble finding information on the growing
requirements of these iris. Do they require completely dry summers or
need watering during the dry season? Full sun/part shade? Are they
summer dormant?  They are so low to the ground that if I grow any kind
of ground cover or low growing companions their leaves will be
completely covered, would this be inappropriate? 
		Thanks for any assistance.
		Linda Herbert
		Half Moon Bay, CA

Chad Schroter	Los Gatos, CA Zone 9
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