Iris from seed

I've not seen them that small Victoria, I would imagine they look quite delicate.

 

Hubby is going back to the apartment tomorrow .. I will ask him to take a photo on his mobile .. whether we will get this or not is another story ...

 

There are lots of different types of Iris and they can be had in flower most of the year round. The main dwarf types found in gardens are either forms of the so called Pacific Coast hybrids which flower from April or so onwards and grow to about 15 inches and Dwarf or Miniature Bearded Iris. Again those grow from about 9 inches to 15 inches. they flower in April to May (here).
Winter flowering ones are either bulbous types or I. unguicularis.
No matter, all Iris seeds need to be sown and left exposed to winter cold. They do not need the heat of a propagator for them to begin. They usually germinate in Spring. I grow a lot of different ones from seed in an attempt to get some different colours of the Pacific Coast ones.

 

Bless, he remembered but only got his new mobile a couple of days ago so is unsure with it ... the little bloom is about 6 inches tall ...

 

Thanks for the info Palustris. So having tried them in a propogator, do you think if I was to now put those same ones outside they would shoot, or is it to late? I have no other seeds.

 

Thanks Victoria, the flower looks bigger than I expected it to!

 

It would do no harm to try them in cooler conditions. Cover the seed pot with something to stop mice or birds getting at the seeds, we have lost a few that way.
Do you know which Iris you got the seed from?

 

You could put them in a sealed placcy bag in the fridge for four to six weeks, then place on a window sill..........

This is a nice dwarf spring flowering Iris - Iris (reticulata?) "Katherine Hodgkin".............

 

My brother gave me the seeds and his garden is fairly new to him so he has no id either. I'll get him to take pics next year and I'll post them here.

 

I'm getting hooked on the dwarf irises. I bought Iris ensata Moonlight Waves whilst away last summer. White flowers with a lime green to yellow centre. It flowers mid-summer. I look forward to seeing it in bloom next year.

 

Ensata Irises are not that dwarf and need damp conditions to thrive. Look out for Pacific coast Hybrids. Broadleigh Bulbs used to sell them at one time.

 

Having given up on the propagator I did as suggested and put the pots outside for a couple of weeks just to see if it would trigger the seeds into action and hoping they hadn't rotted. They've had a few days frost recently as well.

I brought them in and put them back in the propagator. BINGO! Today I have just one seedling and fingers crossed for more! :yess:

 

Funny. I was about to add to this thread myself. the seeds I sowed about a month ago and left out in the 'cold' have just germinated. Now I will have to find somewhere warmer for them.

 

iris foetidissima is easy from seeds

 

Well, after the struggle of getting these to germinate and thinking all was lost, I have got seven little healthy babies from the dozen seeds I put down and looking forward to them blooming. I haven't a clue what colour they are though.