THE IRIDACEAE [IRIS] FAMILY - 2015

D.iridioides and D.grandiflora. Iridioides is my favourite...............#

 

Calydorea (Cypella) amabilis has burst into bloom on the top shelf of the greenhouse staging without me noticing!


The reason that it caught me out is that the seed was only sown in January so the last thing that I was expecting were flowers.

It is a small bulbous member of the Iridaceae family from wet spots in South America. It makes a good houseplant here in the UK.

 

A couple of better photos of Calydorea amabilis..............


You have to be quick with this small Iris relative (from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) as the flowers only last for a day............

 

I have managed to collect some Pacific Coast Iris seed for the first time this year and want to have a go at germinating them. I've had a look on the web and there's conflicting ideas on whether I should stratify and if so how, fridge or in pots of soil outside over winter. Any guidance would be welcome please.

 

Another seedling of Calydorea amabilis has bloomed.................


This one has the distinct markings and the petals and standards which are absent on the other seedling that has bloomed. I'm really pleased as the seed was only sown in January.

 

Bumping this post, can anyone help please?

 

Hi Sheal,

Sorry I can't help I've never grown Iris from seed :(

I think you should put one those " mentioned " or " tagged " thingys out for Longk as he's back from his hols now.

 

Thanks Anthony. Longk posted earlier, perhaps he didn't have time to reply. I'll see what happens now I've bumped the post.

 

I thought that I had replied - not sure what happened
Anyway.............. I rarely have any luck with Iris seed that I try to grow but they self seed like boogery! So my thoughts are that Iris seed dislikes being stored dry and my advice is sow now using both methods. I think that sowing the seed fresh is the most important thing.

 

Thanks for your help @longk. I've been thinking about this since I posted, with seeds from eight different pods I think they'll have to be stratified outside over winter, there's not mushroom in the fridge.

It's just a bit of an experiment to see whether the seeds will come true to the parent plants and if not what surprises will be in store.

 

Experiments are always good!

 

Yes and Pacific Coast Irises are quite promiscuous. We'll see what offspring I can rear.

 

just noticed this thread, wow. My husband really into them have all sorts of them. have to find the pics.

 

My late aunt had underplanted a large strelitzia reginae with iris,for some reason the orange never flowered amongst the blue until I dug up the bed and separated them and found this beauty.

 

that is absolutely stunning,i have no luck with dutch iris they are always flopping over looking so untidy