Leonine Iris

Growing PCI from seed requires patience, a tough heart and more patience. Germination can take several weeks to a few months. Waiting for seedlings to mature to a blooming age, usually two or three growing seasons (although occasionally the first season if plant out by mid-May), and the ability an

When I started growing PCI from seed I found many differences of opinion on the steps to take to get good germination, anything from soaking them in the toilet tank to refrigeration. Being somewhat of a non-conformist, I decided to try doing it my way.... Lo and behold, germination was excellent and

Before you can start PCI from seed, you must first have a resource for seed. A few options to consider:

Leonine Iris
The Society for Pacific Coast Iris' Seed Exchange
Seed from your own PCI, whether bee-crossed or from a specific cross. Note: If collecting your own seed, whether bee-crossed or hybrid, be sure to bag them with an organza bag or a tightly meshed, yet breathable, bag and tag them with the parentage (e.g. "Kalarada" x bee-cross or "Kalarada x Blood Veins"). I typically harvest the pods by cutting the stalk when the pod cracks open then store them in their organza bag in a cool, well ventilated, area to allow them to mature completely.

Here are the steps I take with seed harvested from the current year:

Note: Seed harvested in previous years may still be viable but the germination rate is typically reduced; the same techniques are used.

Create a waterproof label showing the cross (e.g. Kalarada x Blood Veins)
Using a moistened double-layer of paper towels, empty the seed package or bag on to the paper towel and a triple layer of paper towel over the seeds. If Vitamin B1, or a similar root stimulant, is available I'll add a drop or two to the water used to moisten the paper towel.
Place the germination packet in a shallow tray or dish, moisten the paper towel completely, but not soaking wet, then place the tray aside where you can check it for moisture every few days. (I usually leave it on the kitchen counter or on top of the refrigerator.)
After three or four weeks I'll plant the seed in pots, one pot for each cross
The pots then go into the greenhouse or a brought window to await germination.
Once germination seems complete and after then seedlings have developed three of four leaves, the pots will be gently turned out and each seedling is planted in it's own seedlig cell to continue to grow until they can be planted out, usually mid-May.

The Life Cycle

Step 1: Select the clump to be divided

This may seem like an obvious step, although many factors can be involved when determining whether or not a clump needs to be divided.

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Under development....

Growing PCI From Seed

Here are the steps I take with seed harvested from the current year:

The Life Cycle

Step 1: Select the clump to be divided