Re: HYB: aphylla

Linda Mann,
    I. aphylla is most suited to the median class. It really takes
several generations to get away from the poor substance floppy flowers
to well formed heavier substanced flowers from the species. 
    We have been able to develope seedlings which fit the SDB class,  
ARRIVAL and the even smaller SLICK TRICK. Most seedlings fall into the
Intermediate class. There seems to be quite a difference in bloom time.
Our SDB SLICK TRICK blooms with the tall bearded. Our TB intro BOUQUET
MAGIC blooms very early.  SLICK TRICK blooms again in the fall and is
somewhat taller carrying more buds ( almost MTB in size) in the fall.
IN FLIGHT, another TB, blooms closer to the TB season. You must be aware
that any iris with a strong aphylla background will be small flowered.
Few flowers even on the TB's are larger than 3 1/2" X 4". But the beauty
is that they carry the heavier substance, ruffles, flare,high bud count
and the exquisite form of the most glamorous TB's.
     On the other hand we have many seedlings from aphylla that have
very plain taylored forms. But the tremendous variation of clean color,
form and growth habit we have been getting is well worth having.
This is a field that is wide open to hybridizers. 
     We tend to get very high bud count on a lot of our seedlings.
Truly, we had one which produced 23 blooms with multiple branches which
were rebranched. However, the blooms left a lot to be desired.
We grow several thousand seedlings each year from aphylla derivitives.
We usually make a couple of crosses back to the species annually, but
we have never gotten anything worthy of introduction from F1 crosses.
     I hope I inspired your interest. 
Vicki Craig
cragiris@ipinc.net
Tigard, Or
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