Re: Pacific Coast Natives

Only if you've lived in both places can you have a feeling for the real
climatic differences between the habitat of the californicae and the humid
mid-Atlantic states.  The problem is definitely a two-season one.  Most of
the habitats of the PCNs enjoy long, hot, dry summers and cool, but not
cold, moist winters.  In the mid-Atlantic states, we get hot humid summers
with much rain and significant below-freezing temperatures in winter.  It's
just not going to work!  PCNs are very narrowly adapted plants (with the
possible exception of I. douglasiana) with specific requirements, just like
arils.   Added to this is their well-known fussiness about being moved as
mature plants.   A lot of special treatment is required to grow them out of
their own habitat.  It would be nice to hear (or read) the methods applied
by some of the rumored successful growers in Michigan, North Carolina,
etc., etc.  Or are these just rumors?  I bought "I. douglasiana" from a NC
nursery but it turned out to be I. sanguinea (as did "I. ruthenica" from
another place).

Would it work to grow hundreds from seed and line them out, letting
selection take its course?  This was the strategy used to get the CaRe
Japanese irises, which could grow in alkaline soils.

Here in central VA we had a long series of hot, dry summers in the early
and mid-80s.  Arils and Arilbreds alike thrived in the open during this
period but now are no more except in special microclimates (sandy soil at
the base of a south-facing brick wall, for example).  To grow a wide
variety of iris types, one has to be aware of the habitat requirements and
try to meet those by using garden microclimates.

Best wishes, Bill
___________________
William A. Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943 USA
phone (804) 223-6172
FAX (804) 223-6374
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