Re: iris seeds from AZ

Hi,

They're Iris missouriensis, if they're native.  I would treat them like any
other Iris seeds, plant, keep moist and cold stratify, and they should come
up in spring.  They like to be very moist to wet in spring, damp the rest
of the time.  They don't like stale anaerobic soils, and need oxygen at the
roots.  You may be a bit warm for them, but they might do OK for you.  Your
problem will probably be more in summer than winter, especially the muggy
summer nights (they like cool nights).

They will not flower in shade, and were probably growing in sunny spots
among the Pine trees.  Pines usually grow in soil too dry for I.
missouriensis.  More often you will find them growing around the margins of
marshes, in wet meadows, along streamsides, under Aspens, in road cuts,
sometimes in openings between Spruce and Fir, etc.   As for soil, they're
not very picky, and grow in soils derived from numerous rock types.  They
are often stated to prefer limestone, but this is not true, and the "lime"
soil they sometimes grow in is probably usually acidified by being wet and
full of organic material.  Even so, they seem to handle a wide range of PH
and soil types.  They do worst in sand, best in silt or loam.

Good luck,

Dave
central NM

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