Re: SPEC: Belamcanda chinensis
Some more tidbits on Belamcanda and "candy lilies". The hybrids are the
result of crossing Belamcanda chinensis with Pardanthopsis dichotoma, the
so-called "Vesper Iris." Some recent work by botanists suggests that
dichotoma, originally considered an Iris, should go back into the genus
Iris. Not that it makes much difference. Despite the ability to cross
with Belamcanda, P. dichotoma has never been crossed with an iris. The
young plants of P. dichotoma, before blooming, are almost indistinguishable
from those of Belamcanda.
The cross was originally made by Sam Norris and the hybrids are known
botanically as Pardancanda xnorrisi (the "x" indicates a hybrid "species").
The original hybrids were much more iris-like than what we see today;
seed-grown material resembles multi-colored Belamcandas. Repeating the
cross or perhaps back-crossing evidently restores the iris-like form and
widens the color range, which now tends to be quite narrow and centered on
uninteresting purples.
Evidently with repeated generations open-pollinated the Belamcanda
chromosomes begin to prevail.
Belamcanda chinensis is originally Chinese, as the name suggests, but has
now naturalized over much of the SE United States and many people think it
is a native wildflower. There is a second garden species, B. flabellata,
usually marketed as "Hello Yellow" which is a better garden plant than B.
chinensis. It is 20-24" tall, with much stouter plants and bluish foliage.
The flowers are produced in compact clusters, are up-facing, light yellow,
sometimes with darker yellow dots. I do not know if flabellata has ever
been crossed with chinensis, or with P. dichotoma or the "candy lilies."
Years ago I tried it with "candy lilies" and had no success.
Last year SIGNA offered seed of the second generation from
colchicine-treated and supposedly tetraploid Pardancanda. I've got about 2
dozen very robust seedlings from this material which should bloom late this
summer or in the fall. Could be pretty exciting!
In keeping with everything being earlier this year, my Pardanthopsis
dichotoma has put up a bloom spike.
I find the whole range of these plants to be easy to grow under ordinary
garden conditions, but doing best in good soil and plenty of sun.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>
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