Funny, this plant is doing really well for me thus far in a cactus/dry bed I have here in USA Georgia. I've only had it a year but it has grown a nice amount. I have three in a small cluster. Oddly, I lazica slowly increased for me, never bloomed and just when it looked kinda biggish, it got up and die disease. I was under the impression I. lazica was easier here in the SE. Is this not so? Steve Burger Atlanta, Georgia USA USDA 7b (been 8+ for many years now) -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Jane McGary Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 04:49 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] Iris unguicularis John Lonsdale wrote, >I have a couple of different plants raised from seed collected by JCA ex >Crete (the more delicate form 'ssp. cretensis') that are flowering at the >moment. This is a surprise to me, because I have plants from probably the same collection, and they don't flower until mid-spring here in Oregon -- the same time as they bloom in the wild. They do make a lot of leaf for the amount of flower produced. I don't have I. unguicularis out in the open garden, but I have some in a planter box tucked under the edge of the deck that have done well over the years, though now too shaded to flower well. Better here is the closely related I. lazica, which has large, colorful flowers in late winter. I understand it's a plant of open woodland and it does look better with part share, but it flowers best in sun here. It is considered hardier than I. unguicularis. I. unguicularis surprised me when I planted it in my brother's garden in coastal central California. It rapidly formed massive clumps. It would be a good ground cover there -- it might even do battle with the ubiquitous Agapanthus. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php