Re: SPEC: Iris Wattii

From: dkramb@tso.cin.ix.net (Dennis Kramb)

>From: "william b. cook" <billc@atlantic.net>
>
>> This year I added two types of crested irises to my collection, the
>locally
>> native i. cristata and the near-tropical i. wattii.  For those of you
>> unfamiliar with them, i. cristata is a tiny little guy only a few inches
>> tall, whereas its cousin i. wattii can be several feet tall with lots of
>> branching.
>>
>     I think I have seen discussion on Iris wattii before.  It sounds like
>an interesting plant.  I wonder if it would grow in USDA Zone 8/9 Florida?
>If anyone can tell me about this, please do.

Geez, I dare say they should thrive there.  They love lots of water, and
need to be in the shade.  I got mine this spring and put them in huge
containers in order to regulate soil moisture better.  I keep them against
the north side of my house on the patio and they are just going crazy
making new increases, so they must be happy.  Next spring I am definately
going to have to thin them out (assuming they survive the winter indoors
here) and would be happy to send you some (if it's legal to ship to FLA!).
I think i. wattii are the most "orchid" like of irises in that they have
lots and lots of blooms on zig-zag stalks.

I'm just going to go nutsy cuckoo if they bloom next spring!  Not only for
the beautiful show they'd put on, but also for the chance to hybridize with
them.  Honestly though, mine might not be pure i. wattii.  Both sources
which sent me clumps earlier this year suggested they might be hybrids.
The clump I got from Virginia has lush green TB-like foliage.  The clumps I
got from California have fans which start up several inches above the soil
on purple "stalks".  Very unusual, indeed.  But both have flowers described
as similar to i. wattii.

Dennis Kramb; dkramb@tso.cin.ix.net
Cincinnati, Ohio USA; USDA Zone 6; AIS Region 6
Member of AIS, ASI, HIPS, RIS, SIGNA, & Miami Valley Iris Society
Primary Interests: Arilbreds, Rebloomers, and Native Ohio Species Irises



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