Iris lazica, I. unguicularis
Robert Pries (Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:19:57 PST)

Jim: yes unguicularis and lazica have been crossed in the past by som famous botanists but i believe all the hybrids have been lost although the descriptions sounded quite unique and pretty. Give it a try I would love to see some new plants for the winter garden.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim McKenney" <jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, March 5, 2010 11:13:34 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [pbs] Iris lazica, I. unguicularis

Iris unguicularis has been blooming during the last week, and now Iris
lazica has buds up and looks as if it will open any day, maybe today.

Does anyone know if these will hybridize? I know that they are closely
related as iris go, but I also know that “sibling species” are sometimes
very resistant to hybridization.

Last year, when I complained that Iris lazica seemed to be taking its time
about blooming, Roger suggested that I stop babying it in a cold frame and
get it out into the garden. Now I’m glad I did not take his otherwise good
advice because in the garden it would probably not be in bloom now and I
would not be able to attempt the hybridization.

Jim McKenney

jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com

Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, 39.03871º North, 77.09829º West, USDA zone
7

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