Iris nelsonii Randolph (Abbeville red iris)

Photosby RAB

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Yellow form, photo by Colin Rigby
Seed pod

Habitat: Shady areas in standing water in bayous south of Abbeville,LA.

Bloom: Mid to late April in Zone 7/8

Description:

• Flowers: d12 cm, pendant (drooping), typical is purple-red, alsoyellow
• Stem: h 80-105 cm (shorter in cultivation?), 4-6 branches with 2flowers each
• Leaves: h 80-90 cm, w 2.5cm, drooping tips, pale green
• Rhizome: w 2-3 cm, bare, 10-15 cm annual growth
• Capsule/Seeds: w 2 cm, l 5 cm, green at maturity / corky,"D" shaped seed
• 2n = 42
• Comments: Resembles a robust I. fulva. Is thought to be a stablehybrid of I. fulva, I. giganticerulea and perhaps also I. brevicaulis (see"Other Information").

• Sun: Usually grown in full sun to light shade. May do well in deepershade in standing water as in its habitat..
• Soil type: Neutral to acid, lots of humus.
• Soil moisture: Moist to wet. Mulch to retain moisture and protectrhizomes from sun burn.
• Feeding: Feed at onset of growth in spring and fall.
• Hardiness: ?
• Transplant: Easy in fall or spring after bloom.
• Seed germination: Plant seeds befor they dry.
• Comments: Generally easy. Will grow in "border garden" conditionswith additional water. Grows and blooms well for me, if a bit small (possiblydue to restricted water).

Micheal L. Arnold, Ph.D. in the Department of Genetics at the UniversityOf Georgia has studied I. nelsonii as model for the formation of speciesvia hybridization (introgression). Check out his web page for a list ofinteresting publications using molecular genetics techniques to study theirises of the series Hexagona.

Distribution of I. nelsonii:

I. nelsonii's range is limited to the area south of Abbeville Louisiana.

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Last modified 8/04.