Iris and some Irids 2009

[Paul T]

Otto,

I didn't realise that these iris were perfumed?  I've never cut one for inside, either.  Does this apply to just the dwarf form?  I have a few different varieties, but not that one, which is why I am asking.... particularly about the perfume.  I might have to go out and pick a couple now and see what they're like.  Any particular treatment for them as a cut flower?

[David Nicholson]

Paul, cut them relatively young and pop them in a small vase with water, they smell delicious(ly?)

[Gerdk]

Raised from seeds received in 2007 here is Iris serotina - an autumn flowering member of the family.
Thanks to RDD!

Gerd

[David Nicholson]

Lovely Gerd, how long from sowing to flowering please?

[Maggi Young]

I'm impressed that you have flowers after only two years.... what an elegant flower 

[David Nicholson]

........ and if I had read Gerd's post properly I wouldn't have asked the question-sorry Gerd

[Otto Fauser]

Gerd , you are a better gardener than I am - I had to wait 3 years from sowing seed till
 flowering ,
         Otto.

[BULBISSIME]

Congratulations gerd,
lovely plant, very elegant and... seeds seems to love you

[Ragged Robin]

Congratulations Gerd on your Iris serotina first flowering in super-time - so delicate and a gorgeous colour 

[Gerdk]

Thanks for compliments alltogether - no special treatment. David, seeds were sown
at the end of September 2007.

Gerd

[Rafa]

you know Gerd, it is very big satisfaction to me to see these pictures! the effort that I did collecting these seeds,very far from my home have sense when you see what happend if the seeds are in the correct hands!

congratulations  

[Rafa]

of course, I am sure all of yours will have the same results with my seeds sooner or later, as ALL in SRGC are expert gardeners!

[Maggi Young]

Rafa,  can you tell us a little about the natural  habitat of the Iris serotina, please?

[Rafa]

This species grows in central Spain (Cuenca) and Anzalucía (Jaén, Cordoba...) maybe more places. I found it in dry limestone slopes, but north exposition, so they are most of the day in shade. It is very hardy and very resistant to the draught thanks to its papyraceus tunics, many many layers. Some of the trees you can find with this species are Pinus pinaster, Quercus ilex subsp. ballota... and also shrubs like Ononis aragonensis, Lavandula latifolia, Santolina chamaecyparissus subsp. squarrosa, Santolina rosmarinifolia.... I also remember hundreds of Allium molly, Anthericum liliago and Ornithogalum narbonense fructifying.

It is the most distinctive Xiphium Iris, it is the only species that blooms when is going to be dry. In Gerd's picture you can see the plant has lost all the chlorophyll in all the parts except flowers. Also the standards have reduced the size to an insignificant.

In my notes, I wrote it blooms 01/August and the seeds  01/October. The germination rate is almost 100%

[Maggi Young]

Thank you , Rafa..... super to  learn these facts.