Pacific Coast Native Iris


-Hi Nan

I want to second what Loren says about transplanting or dividing Pacific
Coast Native Iris (PCNs). I killed several before I learned, they MUST
only be disturbed at the beginning or during their active growth period.
And like so many Cal. natives, this is during our winter rainy season.

You'll find that after yours have been in the ground for a few years,
they'll spread out and develop empty centers. You'll be tempted to
divide them as soon as bloom is finished. They are now entering dormancy
and have almost no roots at all!

As Loren suggested, wait until mid to late October, and you'll see
little fans of new growth developing around the outside edges. If you
dig down with your fingers, you'll see white roots sprouting from pink
bases on the thin rhizome.

With a fork, lift the whole clump and break it apart at its natural
separations with your hands. Keep the divisions damp in the shade while
you  re-dig and amend the soil. Then replant your divisions at the same
level they were before. Blooming does not depend on the size or age of
the clump and your new divisions will generously bloom the following
spring. They like light shade with plenty of reflected light, good loose
humusy soil on the acid side and fairly good drainage, plenty of
moisture during fall, winter and spring, and to be dry during the
summer. You can loose them during the summer in warm(hot?) wet soil due
to water mold fungi.

So glad you grow them. They're one of my favorites!
Jan
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jan Smithen,               gardening teacher
                           California Arboretum Foundation
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10

Visit the California Arboretum homepage at :
http://www.arboretum.org/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index