Re: Iris decora



On Mon, 14 Jun 1999, Tim Longville wrote:
> points rather than two: 
> 
> Does anyone on the list happen to know anything about I. decora and
> its needs? I can't find it in my ref. books but I dimly remember being
> told by someone that it's allied to the Cristata group and would
> relish similar conditions of heat but moisture and
> less-than-scorching-sun. Is memory telling true? I have seed-grown
> plants itching to get in the ground but I'm paralysed by doubt as to
> where to put'em. Any help would be appreciated.)
> 
Tim 

I had I.decora, entirely by accident.  It came up from seed that was
supposedly some kind of Romulea.  Planted in a ne-exposed, well drained
bed
of leaf mold/crushed lava, with summer irrigation.  It bloomed twice, then
disappeared.  The flowers are incredibly beautiful and incredibly
short-lived, even by Iris standards.  Probably each was open for six hours
or so.

Brian Matthew, in THE IRIS [Timber Press, 1981] says that it "presents
little difficulty, but does not persist long in the open ground.  A deep
pot in an alpine house or cold frame suits it best, where the plants can
be nearly dired out in winter when dormant. In the summer it prefers cool
growing conditions with plenty of moisture through to flowering."

[referring to condtions of growth in the British Isles. form my
expereience in western Oregon, I'd gather that the winter dry season is
key to long survival in the garden.]


So, quite the opposite of Mediterranean.  Note also, that according to
Matthew, this name replaces I.nepalensis.... you may find references to
I.decora under that name.

loren russell, corvallis, oregon
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