Pacific Coast Iris

[Diane Whitehead]

I sent seed of Pacific Coast iris to the SRGC seed exchange.

Two lots were collected in Oregon and California, and I put
pictures of the flowers in the Seed Exchange part of the Forum.

I sent two lots of hybrid seed.  One was from Pacific Rim which
produces good seedlings.

The picture shows Pacific Rim on the left, and two of its
seedlings on the right.

[Diane Whitehead]

I correspond with several hybridizers who live along the Pacific Coast
of Canada and the U.S.  We all have different aims.  One is trying for
a pure turquoise flower, someone else is developing scented flowers.
We exchange seeds so that we can see how our hybrids do in a different
climate. 

The choice of what to aim for sometimes happens by luck.  I was ripping
out a row of plants with boring flowers when I suddenly noticed that one
plant had a lot more flowers than normal - I counted them, and each stem
had 9 buds.  Well!  a new aim.  Lots of buds and more exciting flowers.

The pictures show some of my flowers that I have crossed with multi-buds.

[Paul T]

Diane,

Beautiful!!  your seedlings are lovely, and 'Pacific Rim' is gorgeous.  The Pcific Coast Iris are fantastic.  Just coming into flower here at the moment, although not going to be a good year for them this year in my garden as conditions have been hard as I was ill last summer (so not much watering).  Still got a few flowers though.  I just love me, and want to grow more of them but they are rarely available here, except for one year when they were through the nurseries.  Not seen them since then.  Have a few seedlings of my own about the place, including a rather nice lavendar and white combination.  it will flower shortly.  Others I have include 'Flotilla' (white with pale blue overlay when opening), the yellow that Fermi posted pics of the other day, 'Deepening Shadows' (black), 'Endless' (cream and burgundy), pink and purple (don't know it's name), plus a few older types that aren't as big and ruffled.  None of these are as ruffled as your seedlings though Diane.  Yours are extremely impressive!!  Great to see the pics, and would love to see any more pics you have of your seedlings.

[Diane Whitehead]

Another aim of mine is to produce plants with more interesting
leaves.

Except for deciduous Iris tenax, the most northerly species of the Californicae,
all the Pacific Coast iris have narrow evergreen leaves.  Some have
red at the base of the leaves, and Iris bracteata has red along its
flower stem and along its bracts as well.

I spent a couple of weeks looking for wild plants with red on the leaves,
and found one colony of bracteata along a road near Cave Junction in
southern Oregon. [when I returned this year, I found that the road was
being widened in preparation for subdividing the surrounding land.
 I found 29 seeds that had dropped down a bank.  I am distributing them
to nearby growers so the population doesn't disappear.]

When I got home, I discovered that all the seedlings from my daughter's
white Iris douglasiana had red on the leaves and spathes.  I didn't have
to travel so far after all.

  

[Paul T]

Diane,

nice white too!!  You're right, adding more to the foliage value makes sense.  Red flush to foliage gives something more, and well worth trying for I think.

[ChrisB]

Hi Diane,

I grow an iris that has very interesting foliage when it comes up in spring - Iris x robusta 'Dark Aura'.  If you haven't got it and want some email me and I'll see what I can do.  Foliage that first appears is very purple and is always remarked upon by visitors.

[Diane Whitehead]

Thanks, Chris.  Iris X robusta, is available here somewhere.  I saw a pot
of it being carried away from a plant sale, the dark purple leaves noticeable
from a distance.

I doubt it would do well in my garden - not enough sun (bearded iris have
been here for about 30 years but only flower the year after a tree blows
down), and much too dry. X robusta is a natural hybrid between two swamp,
ditch or moist meadow dwellers, Iris virginica and I. versicolor.

That's why I grow so many Pacific Coast iris - they are perfectly adapted
to our rainless summers and rainy winters, and do well in shade, though
some sun is ok too. 

[ChrisB]

No problem.   I love those PC iris' they are very nice.  Have one here from Broadleigh, given to me by Sue G - I. 'Broadleigh Lavinia' - wonderful mauve/purple flowers.  Superb.  Must get more....

[ChrisB]

BTW, my daughter lives in Abbotsford, are you anywhere near there?

[Maggi Young]

Iris are SO glamorous, aren't they.... like fabulous Can-Can dancers!


Nine buds on a stem sounds good to me, I must say... and scent is ALWAYS a plus point... happy hybridising!

[Diane Whitehead]

they are rarely available here, except for one year when they were through the nurseries.  Not seen them since then. 

They are not readily available here, either.  They don't relish being transplanted,
and don't fit in well to the usual nursery timetable.

They are adapted to our North American Pacific Coast climate of dry summers
and rainy winters.  They are mostly evergreen, but just sit and maintain
themselves all summer, then put out new roots when the rains start.  October and
November is when I dig up clumps, break them up,  and pot them for sale in April
and May when they are in flower.  Disturbing clumps at any other time results in
a high percentage of dead plants.

It is possible to move the whole plant at other times, but the transplant will require
care, and will need watering regularly during its first summer.  Established plants
require no watering, but will not die if they are watered, unlike some of our natives.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Diane,
I'll be scouring the SRGC Seedex list for your PCIris seed!
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Diane et al,

I hope you don't mind me adding a few more PCIs here? 





Those two may or may not have names, but the plants were given to me wthout names so I really don't know.


This is one of my own seedlings (not deliberately crossed, but I can make a guess at the parentage to a degree).  The colour is really delicate in person, with pretty much everyone who's seen it commenting how nice it is.  The white and lavender combination and the good size of the flowers works well.  Good grower too, unlike some.

[fermi de Sousa]

I said earlier that we needed more of these PCIs so we got a new one on the weekend and it's now in bloom - still in its pot.


cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Fermi,

That would be 'Sahara Dunes' by the look of it.  Great colour, although quite unusual in a flower to have that sort of cinnamon.