Re: Water iris--Louisianas ARE hardy in PA
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Water iris--Louisianas ARE hardy in PA
- From: p*@psu.edu (Paul and Heather Bruhn)
- Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 15:35:29 -0700 (MST)
Rick Tasco wrote (to Teresa Cobb):
>Also, but they need more care, you may want to try Lousianias. They
>come in all colors. There might be a hardiness problem in your area,
>i'm not sure. But I do know of a garden in PA that sells cold hardy
>ones. Can't think of the name, maybe another member can provide it.
>
George Bush in York, PA used to sell Louisianas but cleared out his
inventory of them in order to sell his Siberians and Japanese. Mt. Gretna
Gardens in PA used to sell Louisianas also until the owner moved out of
state. If anyone hears of a new nursery opened by J. Steven Brown, he's the
guy from Mt. Gretna. Steve sold me a pile of the Louisiana iris "Black
Gamecock" that grew like crazy for me and was almost evergreen this winter.
So yes, I'd definately say Louisianas are winter hardy in PA, and I'm in
zone 5b. Some growers will tell you if a particular hybrid overwinters well
or not in northern areas. The folks at Nicholls Gardens (link from any of
the iris websites) are usually forthcoming with this kind of information. I
have also seen "Red Dazzler" a I. fulva cultivar, growing quite well at
Hillside Gardens in Norfolk, CT. That's not coastal CT--Norfolk is in the
Berkshires.
Good luck with your Louisianas!
ps--Teresa Cobb, if you want to trade with me for some "Black Gamecock" let
me know.
Heather Bruhn
********************************
Paul L. Bruhn plb123@psu.edu Heather McCune Bruhn
Pennsylvania, zone 5 (almost zone 6 but not quite!)
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