Judy;
I have grown Dutch Iris many times through the years hear just South of Saint Louis Missouri in the Ozarks, zone 5/6 (lately zone 7, I wish!!). I normally think of them as annuals, but I have had cases where they would survive and bloom the second year, but never as well as the first year. I believe they could be grown successfully here with perhaps a little more winter shelter so that they could make good early spring growth and with some moderation of our summer droughts. Unfortunately I normally give them no extra care. It may be that the summer heat is just to much for them but if the spring is cool and moist they seem to make adequate regeneration. If not a reliable perennial they are certainly a spectacular annual. I am working on an illustrated encyclopedia of Iris for The species section of the American Iris Society, and it appears there are about 50 named varieties that are in commerce. I have been trying to gather a set of photos of as many of these as possible
but have found very few photos of named varieties. The Dutch Royal Bulb Growers appear to be unreachable or perhaps they only answer letters in Dutch.---Bob Pries
Judy Glattstein <jglatt@ptd.net> wrote:I discuss Dutch iris in Texas in the manuscript of my bulb book. Now Timber
Press wants to know about growing them in the South/ Southeast. Anyone out
there who has successfully grown them for more than one season in North
Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, anywhere? Negative information also
appreciated - Anybody tried them unsuccessfully? Inquiring minds want to
know. As the saying goes: curiosity killed the cat. I'd extend that to:
Satisfaction brought her back.
Judy in New Jersey where winter has returned with morning temperatures of
15.4° Fahrenheit and strong gusty winds.
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