I. pseudacorus X I. fulva

I. pseudacorus

I. fulva dwarf

In 1999 2 pods resulted in seeds from a tall Pseudacorus X dwarf Fulva. Pod #1 contained 14 small, round, dark seeds. Pod #2 held 73 normal looking seeds.

Only 2 seedlings resulted and by 11-13-01 the weaker one had died. The stronger seedling germinated in 2001 and appeared to be pseudacorus until heavy fall frosts.

Though located in an exposed area, this seedling retained the dark green of all except its outer leaves during 2001. As with the LAs, this plant did not go dormant. In 2002 the seedling was moved to a lined bed where it would get more nutrients and water. At this writing, it stands just over 38" tall with dark blue-green leaves and increase has been rapid. (All of our pseudacorus show green to yellow-green leaves.) Its leaves at the widest point measure 1 1/2" across and has problems with aphids. In our area, aphids have not been noticed on I. pseudacorus.


seedling #99PF2-2

First bloomed in 2003. The blooms appear typically pseudacorus and open well below the tips of the foliage. While the form is an improvement over the pseudacorus parent, the color is a garrish yellow

Paper chromatography shows this plant to be hybrid and crosses made in 2003 support these findings. It crosses easily to unrelated I. pseudacorus and I. fulva and 2 seeds from a cross to I. fulva standard form have germinated. This plant has also managed to set seed on one of the I. versicolors so we're hopeful that crosses with the majority of the species Louisiana irises won't be difficult. Not surprisingly, it refuses to cross with SHAPE SHIFTER ((JI x SIB) X I. pseudacorus) but I have a little I. pseudacorus/I. versicolor seedling coming along that just might be compatible.

If typical of fertile hybrids, I should begin to see some interesting variations in the F2s. Seeds were planted out in the fall of 2003 and seedlings are now popping up like crazy.