The Iridaceae (Iris family) Thread 2014

They probably flower quicker if you don't abuse them. Mine are in a pot (being tender) but I didn't often water or feed them - so you might even do it in 6 years with TLC.


Gladiolus nanus 'Prins Claus' - got some of these today in a £1 shop. Never hear of Gladiolus nanus but I like the fact that they looked more like a garden flower than a cut flower.

I might have passed them by, but for your thread LongK.

 

Hardy too. Might seek some out for the bed by the wall. The Hermodactylus, Erythronium, Frits and Ornithogalum are in there so it's good for spring colour but lacking in summer.

So I get the blame then!!

Which species are you growing? I already have A.lutea and that is rampant!

 

A. alba. I marked it down as non hardy several years ago - and have never thought about it since as it has never flowered - till now. But looking again it seems to be fully hardy - I see zone 6 quoted.

I was going to ask about that. The sites seem to say it is hardy. I had assumed that it wasn't as otherwise loads of people would be growing it - perhaps they are .

Yes . I used to be happy with bussy lizzies and marigolds till I met you and a few others.

 

If it's as rampant as A.lutea it is probably better in a pot!

I think that most Glads are bought in GC's and "what people want" are the big blousy hybrids.
My latest seed purchase.........................


G.speciosus from fleabay.

I used to be quite happy with Cleome and Amaranthus until I was led astray!

 

That's lovely LongK. You think you know what a Gladiolus looks like and then you find you don't know anything.

There are just so many Gladiolus species - you could spend a week Googling them - then a year trying to find seed.


Gladiolus cardinalis from Strange Wonderful Things looks nice too.

I see these people sell seed for 11 species http://www.plantgenesis.co.uk/Growing-advice/Gladiolus

 

I'm finding that more and more generally as I get older!!

48 species here! Good seller.

 

Fascinating site.

 

Just a bit!

 

First bloom of the year on I.japonica.....................

 

It seems to grow wherever I put it. I have two pots of it, one of which has some shade from an apple tree in the summer, but both are very exposed in the winter. Another clump which is in the ground is a little more sheltered in the winter. The winters of 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 claimed no casualties or even die back. So I confidently call this fully hardy!

Hopefully @simbad can update us on how hers is coming along.
I'm pretty sure that I gave @sal73 some too?

 

Thanks very much very useful information.

 

The first of the bearded Iris bloomed just in time to be torn to pieces by the wind today................

 

Rare Plant Fair today and I decided to replace my Dipplarrena moraea that I lost a couple of winters ago..................


It's the hardier of the two species, although it'll stay in a pot and get put under cover if it turns as nasty as it has done in recent years.

I also got Sue an Iris chrysographs as she is developing a bit of an interest now.

 

If you really want the unusual glads, www.rareplants.es has 57 types of seeds available. I have started some of the Moraeas from them, and should have flowers in a couple of years.
My gladiolus from seed should be back in flower next month.

 

Long just found some seeds of

Moraea pritzeliana

how long do you rekon and how fresh they should be ?