Re: PCN: CULT: hardiness of PCI in USA

From: Bill Shear <BILLS@hsc.edu>

There are several issues involved in PCN hardiness.  Probably the major
barrier to growing them over much of North America is, as has already been
stated, the problems with heat, humidity and rain during the summer.
Secondary is cold hardiness, since many naturally occurring PCN populations
are found where it almost never freezes (but others survive deep frosts,
especially under snow).  PCNs often begin growth very early in the late
winter or spring and are vulnerable to the sudden temperature drops so
typical of a continental climate.

Like Linda, I have tried growing large numbers from seed only to see nearly
all of them succumb during the first summer.  Plants (from California) were
totally unsuccessful.  However, I have had limited survival and bloom on
Calsibes, the hybrids between PCNs and 40-chromosome Siberians.  At this
moment I have an unbloomed seedling (SIGNA seed) of "tetraploid Calsibe"
that is very robust, so much so that I doubt its identity.  It should bloom
this spring, provided it can recover from deer bites it recieved during our
recent big snow.

I have seen PCNs thriving in Britain, where evidently the cool, though wet,
summers allow survival.  Particularly if they are planted in very
well-drained rock garden type situations, it seems to be possible to do
well with them.  Wasn't there a whole series of hybrids ("Banbury--"
somethings) that originated in the UK?  And I seem to recall reading
somewhere that particular gardeners in the vicinity of Ft. William
(Scottish Highlands) raised beautiful clumps.

I would suggest to our English friend that he consult one of the several
good British books on irises, or contact the BIS for more help.

Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@mail.hsc.edu>

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