Re: Iris foetidissima

Re: Diane & Tom's comments -

>:I am looking for sources of forms of Iris foetidissima - I have the
>:normal type.
>
>There are usually seeds of different forms offered in both the BIS
>and SIGNA seed exchanges.
>
>:I've come round to the idea that what does well in a garden needs to be
>:encouraged, so I am going to do some hybridizing of this plant.  Is
>:anyone else trying to brighten its blossoms?
>
>People have, but it seems to be just an idle cross or two for most
>people, not a serious program. Please pursue it! There's enough variability
>in the species that I'm sure good things will come in a few generations.


I wish you every success with developing this very tolerant plant.  Even
though it is native round here and keeps trying to invade my garden, I don't
have the heart to remove every seedling.  For a start, it's evergreen leaves
provide structure to the borders during winter.  Also, the dangling pods of
bright red seeds are attractive at this time.

The obvous starting point is to get a good yellow flower, but there is
enough purple in some of these plants to suggest that that could form a
second colour line.  I have seen plants offered which also have blue flowers
or white flowers.  The commercially available forms include the varieties
Aurea, Citrina and Lutescens, which differ in the flowers yellowness.  There
is a variegated leaf form also, which is reputed to be just the thing to
brighten up a dull, dry corner.

Another departure are those forms which have coloured seeds.  Apart from the
natural orangey-red, there are forms with yellow seeds, and one with white
seeds   ("Fructu Albo").  There's also something available commercially
called "Moonshy Seedling" about which I know nothing.

Hope this might be helpful in giving a starting point to what is already
available fairly easily.

Ian

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Ian Black - Hampshire, England  
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