HYB: Seedlings

Barbara, I applaud your interest in vigor and survivability.

Reaching back to some older, especially vigorous, varieties is a good idea,
even though likely to involve a multigenerational project.

You may find results from Wm. A. Setchell rather disappointing.  From my own
seedlings from it many years ago I was horrified at the form of its offspring.
Setchell has quite long petals compared to their width.  In the seedlings this
"fault" became even more pronounced.  They were all quickly discarded.

There are some more recent varieties that have shown particular toughness and
survivability here in our climate, borderline among three climates--southern,
mid-continent and Atlantic seaboard.  The unique atmospheric character and
heavy clay soils make for a highly variable and demanding set of conditions
that bearded irises do not find a happy one, I have discovered.  Among the
tough survivors, however, FOGBOUND has been one of the shining lights.  A
couple others that have been stubbornly persistent to an outstanding degree
have been BRAZENBERRY and VIENNA WALTZ.

How these fare in Texas may be quite different from their behavior here.

What I mean to suggest is that it isn't actually necessary to reach as far
back as Wm A. Setchell to find tough, growable irises.  I would suggest your
best successes may come from culling through the recent, quality varieties
that have the greatest tendency to persist and thrive for you.  Surely some
do.

Some other remarks recently about paying attention to pedigrees and family
lines is a very useful predictor of successes as well.  Like breeds like, by
and large.

An alternative that has worked wonders in the past with such benchmark irises
as SNOW FLURRYand the great Fay irises, expecially Fay's *pallida*-including
tangerine bearded irises suggests crosses back to stubbornly persistent
performers is worth trying again.  The crosses are not easily made, but can
pay off wonderfully.  It is no accident that varieties such as SNOW FLURRY and
RIPPLING WATERS which have *pallida* clones in their immediate or recent
ancestry appear in an astounding number of ancestries.

There will be great interest in your progress as your efforts toward
difficult-climate survivors continues.  May you have the best possible
outcomes.

Neil Mogensen  Reg 4  z 7  western NC mountains

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