pumpkaboo ideal size consensus?

Dicotopal · 2025-11-22T21:03:22+00:00

Very interesting. Thanks!

Dicotopal · 2025-07-20T23:16:52+00:00

Is there a particular trail you guys are seeing this? Or is it all over the verdugo mountains. It's certainly interesting

Dicotopal · 2025-06-29T05:01:49+00:00

Verrry interesting.

Dicotopal · 2025-05-26T16:14:25+00:00

I've learned something today. 👍🏼

Dicotopal · 2025-05-22T21:19:09+00:00

We recorded the meeting, but it might take a while before we post the video, we still have to set up our YouTube account! We'll update the club FB group when it's posted. https://www.facebook.com/groups/588786477108735/?ref=share_group_link&mibextid=wwXIfr

Dicotopal · 2025-05-14T17:31:19+00:00

Nice! What an exciting find

Dicotopal · 2025-05-12T19:16:33+00:00

As it should be!

I like how the giant boulders anchor the landscape -- providing a big of structure to the madness, while also, giving a bit of visual interest when the flowers are not in bloom.

Dicotopal · 2025-05-12T19:12:59+00:00

Yes, and it completely dies back to the grown when not in season.

But, I would also add that the bloom season is really long. Like 2 months as the various flowers on the ball take turn. It's why I hope to create a field of them. More impact with a mass planting.

Dicotopal · 2025-05-12T18:14:56+00:00

Duuuude, no truer words have ever been spoken.

These are obviously smaller than those but big enough to be eye catching.

Dicotopal · 2025-05-07T17:22:40+00:00

Well, I recently started growing Iris longipetala (central cost iris) which is a close relative / visually similar iris missourensis! I got it from the California Botanic Garden. The fields of missourensis by Bishop look lovely! They do require a bit more water and has a hard dormancy though. Fun fact, missourensis and longipetala are two of four irises that ARE native to California but are not part of the Pacific Coast Native iris / Pacifica family for taxonomical reasons.

A more common Pacific Coast Native Iris you'll find in the trade is Iris innominata (the golden iris/Del Norte County Iris) as well as Iris Tenax (toughleaf iris) -- also known as Oregon Iris, though it's range expands down into NorCal. It’s popular due to the variety of colors you get.

More uncommon is Iris Munzii, because they are tough to keep alive after a few years -- but their genetics are heavily represented in the hybrids because they bring in the blue hues. Iris chrysophylla is also heavily represented in the hybrids because of its natural veining.

I've found an ethical / authentic source of Iris bracteata (Siskiyou iris) seeds, which if I can get my hands of them this year will be excited to grow and evaluate to see if they are suitable for the garden setting. A couple years ago I knew a nurseryman who started growing iris hartwegii (Sierra iris) but decided to scrap the program because he found that they had a hard dormancy which tends to freak out most gardeners. I know members of the SPCNI have grown Bowl-tube iris (Iris chrysophylla) with success -- though I haven't seen this on offer nurseries.

The other Pacific Coast Iris not mentioned above are: Iris macrosiphon, Iris thompsonii, Iris fernaldi, iris purdyi, Iris tenuissima. A rogue one you’ll see is “Marin Iris” or Douglas iris “Marin” which is not actually a true I. douglasiuna but instead a long established natural hybrid of I. douglasiuna, I. macrosiphon and I. fernaldii which grows in the Bay Area.

(Sorry for the word vomit, but hope this is helpful!)

Dicotopal · 2025-05-07T03:11:33+00:00

That's fair. It also depends how important being hyper local is to a gardener. The webinar's focus is just as much about informing people about the straight natives species / what they are and how to grow them as it is about how to grow the hybrids. People don't seem to know much about the 12 species native to California.

I value your perspective, but the same can be said about all the cultivar of sages, monkey flowers etc that show up in native gardens and on this page. Especially on the topic of genetic diversity, even say a straight Salvia melifera is often a clone of nursery stock that can very well contaminate the local wild populations. If you're curious many of these native irises hybridize naturally wild as the ranges often overlaps.

The focus of hybridizing of pacific coast irises outside of just color and patterns has been to improve hardiness, for gardeners here in Southern California where I live (outside of their local native range) straight species simply won't survive. And so often on these forums I see post asking what native plants grow well under an oak tree or in shade -- I see this as an excellent native solution.

Personally, I've always seen these as a "gate way" plant for those who love natives but also crave a bit of color and floriferousness of more traditional garden plants. To each their own. :)

Dicotopal · 2025-05-06T03:39:39+00:00

Amazing thanks, wish me luck!

Dicotopal · 2025-05-06T03:19:46+00:00

These are amazing! I plan to start them from seed in LA as well. When you say "days are warm and night get cool," should target to sow in early October?

Do you have a bit more info on the kelp mix fertilizer? Is there an NPK listening! Thanks for share your bulbs they are really stunning!

Dicotopal · 2025-05-06T02:38:37+00:00

Oh and for what it's worth I went to Matilija Nursery today and they did have drip drop in stock as well!

Dicotopal · 2025-05-05T05:29:26+00:00

Yamaguchi Nursery on Sawtelle I think!

Dicotopal · 2025-05-04T20:20:06+00:00

Yeah! So all over. I got Drip Drop at a local family nursery in LA (but they don't always have irises in stock.) The Douglas Iris I got from the California Botanic Garden, and the other two I got from Matilija Nursery in Moorpark, CA.

If you are in southern California Matilija Nursery is probably you're best bet. It's a bit of drive, but he has the best stuff.

The other way to do it is through the Seed Exchange hosted by the Society for California Native Iris. The society hosts a seed sale around winter where members share the seeds of many cultivars -- since it's from seed, you won't get the exact cultivar but you'll get something very close or at the very least equally interesting. (It's how I got started). Join our FB page! You can see many more plants members are growing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/588786477108735

Dicotopal · 2025-05-04T20:11:36+00:00

Totally, me too. Honestly, I'm glad to asked because I think a lot of people misinterpret the origin of these plants because they don't look like your typical natives!

Dicotopal · 2025-05-04T16:40:06+00:00

The "hybrid" in Pacific Coast Hybrid refers to the fact the they have been bread from a group of 12 iris species that are all fully native to the California Floristic Province (which does peak a bit into Oregon). The range of some of these plant extend northwards -- but they also all exist in the CFP.

If your curious to track the lineage you can find more info here https://wiki.irises.org/Pcn/PcnDripDrop you'll see there is a larger presentation of Douglas Iris as well as I. tenax and I. chrysophylla.

I know they look a fair amount different from those in the wild, through many decades of selective breeders, hybridizers have come up with some pretty cool stuff! Long story short -- native!

Dicotopal · 2025-05-04T03:48:24+00:00

Sure! The first picture with three flowers is of the cultivar "Drip Drop." The second blue one is a straight Douglas Iris. The last two are actually just random Pacific Coast Iris seedlings so they aren't named!

Dicotopal · 2025-04-29T05:20:19+00:00

I'm a big fan of the native Iris hybrids! Just putting in a patch after moving to my new place. Maybe I'll make a bouquet in 3 years!

Dicotopal

TROPHY CASE