Tigridia pavonia

Tigridia pavonia hybrids are very inexpensive corms (not bulbs) which
produce beautiful summer-flowering plants.  They aren't very iris-like to
my eyes, more resembling a small gladiolus in the foliage.  The flowers,
5-6" across, have three large and three small petals and are basically
bowl-shaped, held upright on the stalks.   Shades of red  and yellow
predominate, and the petals are marked at the base with large dark red
spots.   An 'Immaculata' strain is sometimes available; they lack the
spots.  They flower for a long period but each flower lasts only a day.

The corms are hardy at least into Zone 6.  Here in Z7,if left in the ground
they form large clumps in just a few years.  But blooming diminishes as
they get crowded.  They are very easily grown from seed, some flowering the
first year, which makes them even more inexpensive.

The flowers are , unfortunately, very attractive to Japanese beetles, which
quicklyspoil them.

The corms are also edible and were eaten baked by the Aztecs and other
Mexican tribes.  I do not know if they continue to be used for food today.

Corms are available in the spring catalogs of most seed houses and general
bulb suppliers.  If bought in quantity they can be had for as little as
$0.25 each.

Best wishes, Bill
___________________
William A. Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943 USA
phone (804) 223-6172
FAX (804) 223-6374
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