Bearded Irises-2012

[David Nicholson]

My first of the season, a little purple form of Iris attica

[Lesley Cox]

Very nice too. I love the really dark forms of any iris.

[Rafa]

here is also starting to bloom this species. Sorry about your plant David, it seems infected by a virus, I will  send you a clone of my collection

[Hans A.]

I agree with Rafa - it does not look perfect, David.
Here two yellow ones from spain: Iris attica and Iris suaveolens.

[David Nicholson]

Thank you Rafa, that's very kind.

I hadn't noticed the yellow sreaking on my attca until Rafa and Hans pointed it out. I had noticed it on this one though and both will hit the dustbin tomorrow.  Iris lutescens alba-and such a pretty one too  

[ronm]

Are you 100% sure David?

[David Nicholson]

Not 100% Ron, I'll leave the final decision after comment from people far more experienced than I, but it certainly looks "streaky"

[ronm]

I agree it does not look good, but maybe you don't want to destroy them on the say so of a small photograph. Its a long shot but whats the worse that can happen? Especially if you can put them outside somewhere away from your others. As we have already seen on other threads this year these viruses are everywhere and Irises are particularly susceptible, but so what? You're not going to sell them around the world? Your other plants are as much in danger from your neighbours Gherkins as from these plants.
Admittedly it doesn't look good, ..but I have seen temperature effects similar, that have not shown up ever again in the specimen.
My vote ... give them one more year!
We seem paranoid in Irises. If its virus it will weaken and then kill these plants. NO more No less!!

[David Nicholson]

OK "Straw Poll"


Option 1: Dump now.

Option 2: Do as Ron suggests, isolate and give 'em another year

Votes appreciated.

[Maggi Young]

Dump now.

[Lesley Cox]

I didn't notice the streaks either, and should have. Having said that, virtually every commercial bearded iris has some streaking in the foliage. Presumably then, we should dump the lot and only grow from seed. This isn't practicable especially when large firms are distributing more and more every year. Presumably the virus spreads from plant to plant but has work been done to determine how much damage is done to the plants. I mean, it seems to me that even the virused plants continue to grow well and flower freely year to year. Contradict this if you feel the need.

[Hans A.]

Dump now.
Virused Iris look ugly in my eyes, the only reason I kept virused plants (seperated) is to get seeds of a rare species- I destroyed several Pogons, Arilbreds, Junos and Oncos. I prefer to grow all species by seed to grow a clean stock (do hardly grow any cultivars) to avoid the disappointment to receive a virused plant.

[ronm]

It can't be that nobody cares............. can it??

[Lesley Cox]

I expect they DO care Ron but as Hans talks about  destroying so many of all the rarest and most precious kinds, oncos, junos et al, I can't imagine that many people have the courage or the ethics, for want of a better word, to do that. And as for the huge selection of named bearded irises, what breeder/nursery is going to face up to having to start again from scratch with unvirused plants, even if those can be obtained in the first place. I think it is simply too late. It would require every such breeder/grower in the world to destroy everything at the same time.

[Hans A.]

Lesley- as you will know Oncos and Junos belong to my favourites and if I have destroy an ill plant I do this to protect my other ones, differences are important between a virused and a healthy ones.
Hope the picture of a few of my Oncoseedlings (sown 2010) makes it easier to understand why I prefer to destroy a single virused Iris to avoid the risk the others could be infected.