All of the Ipheion's do well in southern California - almost too well. I have grown 'Jessie' for two years in a container and it has multiplied from nine bulbs to 130 in that time. In my opinion it has better foliage that is a bit broader than the other "blue" selections like 'Rolf Fiedler', 'Wisley Blue' and 'Froyle Mill'. It is closest to 'Rolf Fiedler', but with a deeper blue flower, although the petals do not overlap as much. Highly recommended. Ron Vanderhoff Southern California Tony Avent <tony@plantdelights.com> wrote: Jim: Ipheion 'Jessie' has been out for year here in the garden and came through the winter fine. 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 Jane McGary wrote: > Jim Waddick asked about this new cultivar. > > One bulb given me by Wim de Goede 3 years ago increased very well, and I > offered it as a "bonus" on orders this year. I cannot sell it because it is > under Grower's Rights in the Netherlands. > > 'Jessie' is indeed a remarkable color, a real gentian blue, very like the > color of Commelina dianthifolia. It is a small plant, about half the size > of the Ipheion uniflorum cultivars more widely grown. It was selected by > Tony Hall of Kew and named for his late sister, Jessie. > > I don't know how cold-hardy this plant is, since I grow it in an unheated > frame where the temperature never goes below about 20 degrees F. However, > it is really pretty. > > Jane McGary > Northwestern Oregon, USA > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/