Orthrosanthus laxus

[John85]

Yes I know it is not a Iris only a Iridaceae but it is not a proper bulb neither so where to put it?

How much degrees of frost can it take? Plant World says it is hardy in Devon but others rate it Z10.
Is there somebody who grows it?What do you think?Thank you for your help.

[Maggi Young]

This question about where in the Forum  to query plants with rhizomes is a tricky one   Here is fine, I think.
For those who don't know this plant it's from South Western Australia.... see theis Pacific Bulb Society page to learn more about it and its relatives:

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Orthrosanthus

There's not much there though, to help with John's question of hardiness........

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi John,
I can tell you that it survives -7^oC here in Central Victoria.
cheers
fermi

[John85]

THank you Fermi
That is about what I have here.Do you have any information for:habitat,type of soil...

[Banksia_Man]

HI John,

As with many S. hemisphere plants, the secret, here in Europe, is to keep it dry or rather well drained in winter.

Here, O. Laxus grows happily in the greenhouse and suffers no ills down to -5.5°C.

I have tried it outside at the foot of a wall, but it looks like the heavy snow (50cm x3) or cold (-11°C) of last two winters have got the better of it.

Without the unusually heavy snow, it might have survived these temperatures, so I will try again, but I have found that lower than -6°C you're pushing your luck for most mainland Australian plants ...

[PeterT]

I grow what I think may be Orthrosanthus laxus against the house, It just survived January 2010 at -15 c or so, but I think December was even colder and has finished it off. The same goes for Aristea ecklonii, both were happy with two of the wettest summers on record here as well as last summer one of the driest, though not hottest, and without additional watering. The same can be said of a couple of Libertias.

[Lesley Cox]

Orthrosanthus species grow here in any sunny, well drained "ordinary" soil, nothing special. They don't need winter protection with me, to about -6C on a bad day.

[PeterT]

I grow what I think may be Orthrosanthus laxus against the house, It just survived January 2010 at -15 c or so, but I think December was even colder and has finished it off. The same goes for Aristea ecklonii, both were happy with two of the wettest summers on record here as well as last summer one of the driest, though not hottest, and without additional watering. The same can be said of a couple of Libertias.

Both plants have survived the winter