Dear all:
It is very interesting that Hesperoxiphion peruvianum is so
widely grown. It is one of the easiest South American irids provided a few
guidelines are followed. It inhabits the Andes in subtropical regions of
Peru in rich humusy soil overlying rock. It has a long winter dormancy in
which not a drop of rain falls. During the rainy season a lot of water runs
down the slopes but with rapid runoff. As with other tigridioids, the
flowering season is long if faded flowers are promptly removed. Subtropical
or tropical soils have a fantastic texture and drainage. Hence the success
mentioned in a mix or bark and (hopefully gritty) sand.
Maurice Boussard has distributed seed as "Km. 759, Puno" for
years but this is contradictory because Puno could make Oslo or Anchorage
look like Bagkok and it is doubtful that the same species can grow in a
subtropical region of the Andes and at the same time in an alpine one. I am
not saying that Maurice is distributing wrongly identified material but
rather that his source did. If this plant does grow in Puno, then it would
be about the hardiest tigridioid.
Regards
Alberto