RE: HYB: more questions - west coast everbloomers?

Linda Mann wrote:

one of our club members was promoting the use of
California/west coast rebloomers as pollen parents to use on our tough
seedlings that carry rebloom genes.
What do the rest of you think of that approach?
How am I supposed to keep the west coast everbloomers alive & healthy
long enough to produce pollen?
Which everbloomers are the most promising re: petal width, reliability
of flower size & height & tolerating our wetter/crankier climate?

I really don't know about other climates, but out here in California we 
have the reverse problem with some eastern- or northern-bred cultivars. 
 For example, many varieties from Oregon just don't seem to produce 
increases here; and some cold-climate iris seem to need a freeze before 
they are willing to show any vigor or bloom in the spring.  We may have 
exactly the opposite experience with the same iris.

That said, introductions by the late Monty Byers are consistently the most 
dependable rebloomers for me.  REINCARNATION is my absolute favorite 
hybridizing "tool".  It has excellent height and branching, fairly 
consistent rebloom, light lace, closed standards, and is also a space-ager. 
 Its falls sometimes curl slightly about the beard, but this fault does not 
seem common in its progeny.  It is a boysenberry mauve, subtle blend; its 
offspring have ranged widely in color for me.  Like many of Byers' 
creations, it is not quite a "perfect" finished product; but it has 
remarkable potential.  ROCK STAR has given me only ugly babies.  STINGRAY 
reblooms consistently, but I prefer REINCARNATION.

Maybe some of Ben Hager's rebloomers would work well.  Many of his intros 
were good, healthy garden iris, although I don't happen to have any of his 
rebloomers.  Maryott's GLISTENING ICICLE performed well for me after I 
moved it to a relatively damp location.

Good luck!

John Reeds
jreeds@microsensors.com  

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