Dutch iris requirements - clarification
Theladygardens@aol.com (Fri, 12 Sep 2003 23:59:04 PDT)

My 2 cents on Dutch Iris. I grow over 1000 different Iris, most are hybrid
tall bearded but also, Spuria, Siberian, Louisiana, Japanese, Pacific Coast
Hybrids and a few species. Trying to obtain more species all the time.
A few years ago I dug up several bulbs of blooming Dutch Iris from a house
being torn down and planted them in my garden. They bloomed beautifully and
have every year for 6 years now. So I purchased an inexpensive mixed bag at the
garden center and they also come up and bloom every year. Two years ago I
ordered some hybrids, Eye of The Tiger, Van Gogh, and a few others. Not one has
grown or bloomed yet. So my experience has been if it's cheap or free and you
don't know the name of it, you will have success. If you pay a lot and know
the name you won't. LOL
There is a commerical grower about an hour away. He grows acres of them for
the cut flower trade and plants new bulbs every year. He told me they won't
bloom the 2nd year but every other year.
Still waiting for a surprise bloom from the named varieties.
Carolyn in Los Gatos CA, zone 9