Re: Pacific Coast Iris

On Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at 04:55  PM, Pat Creighton wrote:
We are looking for sources of seed, or rhizomes to attempt to start the
native iris as we are having difficulty getting other types of iris to
survive or to bloom here in our 'rain forest' on the west coast of Canada -
in the spots we have available to grow them.
I have PCIs growing in moderate shade and in full afternoon sun. Once established, my experience is that they are reasonably hardy. there are many different native species and each has adapted to a different growing environment. Some live in dappled sunlight forests, some in coastal environs that have a lot of fog intermixed with days of full sun.

They all tend to thrive in cooler summers (and would probably not do well in the desert) in moist but not soaking soil.
There are two watering schedules you can follow in the summer. First, let them go dormant with no water. If you do , you can't wake them up until the fall. Otherwise water them like you would your lawn. They are not heavy feeders.

They don't like to be moved too often, but then the clump up very nicely. I am told that they survive transplanting better if you give them (and their new location ) a fungicide drench.

The best person for advice for your area would probably be Jay Hudson at the Iris Gallery. (800) 757-4747 He grows them commercially in Mendocino CA an environment that would be somewhat similar.



We have had absolutely no luck with rebloomers and we have purchased several
each year since they became available. The rest have failed to maintain
vigor, even though they have been split and carefully tended, as I had
managed to do for 30 years before coming to the present site, with great
success.

We would also like to understand the differences in requirements, etc., for
Pacific Coast Iris, and, as I have an interest in native plants, would
prefer to find those that originate along the BC coast, at least as a
starting point. As I understand it, they grow more readily in partial
shade, as well, which would allow more scope for planting area.

Whatever information you can send will be gratefully received.

tia

Pat Creighton
Diabetic Cats Dietary Management - Owner
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DiabeticCatsDM/


----- Original Message -----
From: "iris DIGEST" <iris-owner@hort.net>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 22:40:04 -0800
From: John I Jones <jijones@usjoneses.com>
Perhaps I missed your questions, but I grow PCIs, can I help?

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John                | "There be dragons here"
                         |  Annotation used by ancient cartographers
                         |  to indicate the edge of the known world.

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