Jim: This is fascinating, but who do you know that has actually tried to grow the real, wild-collected species? Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdelights.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of James Waddick Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 12:07 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] Was (Canna) x 'Ehemanii' - now Alpine Cannas >Thank you Jim, I wonder what I am growing so successfully here then. > >Darlene >Auckland, New Zealand Dear Darlene, I would not be surprised if you are growing the cv x'Ehemanii as it is often sold as the species C. iridiflora. The cv is much easier to grow and tolerates a wide range of conditions unlike the species, but your climate may well be 'kind' to the real species. Actually, I don't recall ever seeing the real species in cultivation. Always turns out to be the hybrid. Best Jim W. -- Dr. James W. Waddick 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 USA Ph. 816-746-1949 Zone 5 Record low -23F Summer 100F +