Rodney Barton's Nelsonii Page
Rodney Barton's Nelsonii Page previously was part of his North American Native Iris site, which is no longer active. Rodney generously permitted a move of the Louisiana iris species pages to the Zydeco species section. Rodney lives and grows irises in Hickory Creek, TX, near Dallas.
Iris nelsonii Randolph (Abbeville red iris)
Photosby RAB
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,
also yellow
- Stem: h 80-105 cm (shorter in cultivation?), 4-6 branches with
2 flowers 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").
Cultivation:
- 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).
Other Information:
Micheal L. Arnold, Ph.D., Department of Genetics at the University of
Georgia, has studied I. nelsonii as model for the formation of species via
hybridization (introgression). Check out his web page for a list of interesting
publications using molecular genetics techniques to study the irises of the
series Hexagona.
Distribution of I. nelsonii:
I. nelsonii's range is limited to the area south of Abbeville Louisiana.
Last modified 8/04.
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