Iris and some Irids 2009

[Ragged Robin]

me too  

Your iris is such a delicate shade - it almost looks pale lavender grey - I love the markings on the falls, Oron

[David Nicholson]

Oron

Beautiful - but I understand it would be difficult for us to grow in the UK 

It would outside Arthur but some good examples have been shown on the Forum under glass. Alex showed a particularly nice one.

[art600]

Oron

Beautiful - but I understand it would be difficult for us to grow in the UK 

It would outside Arthur but some good examples have been shown on the Forum under glass. Alex showed a particularly nice one.

But I still recall others saying it was difficult - Alex grows some wonderful plants very well.  Would like to believe it is otherwise as I rate this type of Iris among my favourites and would love to grow it.

[Oron Peri]

Oron

Beautiful - but I understand it would be difficult for us to grow in the UK  

Thank you fox,

Arthur,
I. vartanii is a low altitude species, growing not far from the Mediterranean sea.
I don't think it is hardy enough for the UK and surly needs many sunny days.
Brian Mathew told me he was growing it for quite a long period of time so  it is probably possible if grown under glass in some areas, but good ventilation is essential.

[Lesley Cox]

Here is Iris kamaonensis which came out yesterday. It is quite different from Bill's (page 72) and this is true colour. The falls are strongly recurved underneath but I though it worth straightening one out to see the different colouring and marking. So strongly recurved than in being straightened, the blade has creased. I think it is very beautiful and the tawny edges, and beard enhance the otherwise purple and white mottling. I've carefully hand pollinated and am not without hope as I get a little seed on I. hookeriana from my single clone. (Well, I have 6 now but the last 5 are seedlings from the original one.)

[Regelian]

Wonderful!  I hope the pods take.  This one has been on my wish list for a few years.  You don't happen to have access to onco or regelia pollen, do you?  A cross could be most interesting.

jamie

[daveyp1970]

Lesley that is stunning am i right in saying its bearded,thats one for my hit list.
just had a look for it and found this Regelian http://www.thebotanicalnursery.com/Iris_kamaoensis.htm
im not sure if this is the same plant or another iris

[Lesley Cox]

No pics available yet in the nursery link. (Great dogs though )
I was hoping my I. hookeriana would flower at the same time but though there's a bud starting, it's probably 2 weeks away. It is stemless whereas the one above has a short stem of about 4 cms with something else above it then the incipient capsule then a long flower tube, again about 4 or 5 cms.
I'll put the hookeriana pic below, for comparison. This from a couple of years ago. It didn't flower last year.

[Lesley Cox]

Yes Davey, the kamaonensis is bearded but not of the section of "bearded irises" as we generally know them, Section Iris. These have no aril or fleshy bit on the seeds unlike the other bearded species in Sections Oncocyclus, Regelia, Psammiris. These two above are in section Pseudoregelia and if your nursery link is still listing it, I'd definitely be ordering some if I were you.

[Paul T]

The first autumnal Iris in bloom: Iris vartanii,
Luckily i have found that growing it in shallow pots it produces new bulblis each year, otherwise i need to hand pollinate it which is a back breaking job...

Oron,

Any chance of a little bit of back breaking one of these years?  It is on our quarantine list so SOMEONE here in Aus must have it, but I haven't ever seen it available.  I am thinking that seed would be the only possibility, as we of course can't receive anything other than seed into the country.  I am not meaning necessarily this year, even next year would be wonderful.  It look to be a real beauty. 

[David Nicholson]

Lovely Iris kamaonensis Lesly. It seems Brain Mathew wasn't that successful with seed production "....cross pollination between different clones seems to be essential....."

[Lesley Cox]

Yes David, I noted (with a sinking feeling in my tummy) BM's comment and what he hasn't been able to do, it's not likely that I can. On the other hand, my climate may suit a little better. I did get seed from the closely related hookeriana, a single clone. I didn't pollinate that so assume bees or others did the trick for me. I may be able to get another from Louise but only worth doing if they're raised from seed in the first place.

[fermi de Sousa]

The first autumnal Iris in bloom: Iris vartanii,
Luckily i have found that growing it in shallow pots it produces new bulblis each year, otherwise i need to hand pollinate it which is a back breaking job...

Truly lovely, Oron!
And I'll second Paul T's request! I can offer you a free Physio consultation it you get a back ache as a result
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

The first autumnal Iris in bloom: Iris vartanii,
Luckily i have found that growing it in shallow pots it produces new bulblis each year, otherwise i need to hand pollinate it which is a back breaking job...

Truly lovely, Oron!
And I'll second Paul T's request! I can offer you a free Physio consultation it you get a back ache as a result
cheers
fermi

That's an offer you surely can't refuse, Oron... fermi has MAGIC hands.... if only I had him here now for my shoulder.....

[BULBISSIME]

Beautifull plant Lesley !
Never seen it flowering ! I hope you'll get seeds but seems to be very hard with only one clone