Re: HYB: dwarfs in hot climates?

I have quite a few SDBs that do well here, some in the gravel rows, some
in more hospitable locations. Some of the ones in the gravel rows drop
both roots and leaves when it gets really hot and dry, then grow again
when it cools off and there is enough moisture again.  BEING BUSY is one
that does this.

Like IMMORTALITY, it took several tries to get BABY BLESSED going here,
but now she has a huge clump that blooms more or less continuously
spring and fall.  She stays alive all summer as well.

There are a few other SDBs that stay green thru the summer - BLUE POOLS,
SERENDIPITY come to mind.

I suspect that most MDBs that could live here would have to be able to
'hibernate' thru the summer droughts, but might make it also if it could
grow really deep roots.  Anybody grow MDBs with root systems that go
down 2 ft deep? <g>

I'm not ready to start trying a lot of MDBs searching for a few that
would do here, especially since the little reticulatas do so well for
me, but will keep all these suggestions in mind.

I didn't know that some MDBs come from SDB breeding.  I guess it would
depend on what background the SDBs came from - might not be an
improvement here & the rest of the southeastern US if they were selected
in 'iris heaven'.

The little aphylla species that I've tried in the past were very
miserable here & either died or remnants were salvaged & given to others
to kill.  I've never tried the other little (dwarf) species or species
crosses, other than I. timeo X variegata, which is a really good one
here, and Ian's I. reichenbachii from Signa seed, a rampant little
weed.  Both of these are SDB size.

Do you know what species background contributes the dwarfing?  I don't
know much of anything about the makeup of MDBs.  I might try growing
more kinds of the dwarf species to see if any of them like it here.

<I wonder if you could have any success with the MDBs that have been
                       developed from SDB parents. Coral Carpet. Humbug
and Forever Violet
                       are three of mine that are from SDB breeding and
may do well in hot
                       climates. A number of Hager's MDBs are also of
this type and may also
                       do ok in hot climates.
Chuck Chapman>

--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8

Tennessee Whooping Crane Walkathon:
<http://www.whoopingcranesovertn.org>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
iris-talk/Mallorn archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
iris-photos/Mallorn archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>




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