Species hardiness
- Subject: Species hardiness
- From: D*@aol.com
- Date: Sun, 18 Feb 96 16:22:06 MST
Cheryl asked about the hardiness of several species in Zone 5, in a message
dated 96-02-17.
Cheryl, I can offer some info. on some of the mentioned species. I am Zone
4/5, depending on how detailed a map you look at. Personal experience tells
me its closer to 4.
I have a small clump of I. prismatica that has survived one winter before
this one, but doesn't seem very happy and hasn't bloomed yet. I also have a
few lined out from seeds started just over a year ago; spring will tell how
those have done. I'm concerned about them being heaved out since they were
small, and winter came with such a sudden vengeance this year that I never
got them mulched. Dittto for some I. virginica, also started from seed just
a year ago and doing fairly well this fall.
I. versicolor is no problem once you get it started: I have some that looks
much better than any I've seen growing in the swamps around here!
I managed to kill a cristata this season (before it even got cold), but I
know other folks grow it in places like Fishs Eddy and Phoenix, NY.
Can't tell you much about the hexagona, except for the I.fulva-I.brevicaulis
hybrid "Dorothea K. Williamson," an older Louisiana iris which has been
around a long time and seems to survive any amount of coldness. I can give
you a piece of it this spring or summer if you like. Some other folks I know
are experimenting with other named variety Louisianas in Phoenix, and I think
they should be able to make some suggestions for cultivars by the end of the
coming season.
A source for seed from many species is SIGNA (Species Iris Group of North
America). If you would like, I can snail-mail you a copy of this year's seed
list; they are accepting orders until MARCH 1 only.
Dorothy Fingerhood
Newfield NY Zone 4/5
