Yellow Dutch Iris Seed Identification

Description

• Dutch irises do not have the frilled, thick petals that the common bearded iris has. The petals are narrow and straight, with a simple edge. They are almost spider-like in their spread and smaller than the bearded varieties. Irises are easy to grow and have a growing range across the United States into Canada. They are tolerant of cool weather and provide greenery well before most plants begin to leaf out. The sword-like leaves and bright flowers arrive in the spring and last for weeks.

Dutch Iris Seeds

• The flowers on a Dutch iris fade and the petals fall after several weeks. In place of the flower, a pod swells into being as the ovary grows seeds. The pod is green with a split down the center and has numerous stacked, flat, whitish seeds. The pod will split when the seeds are fully ripened, which is normally at the end of summer in September. To propagate from seed, you will need to collect the pods just before they spill the seed. Dry them in an open paper bag and then crack the pods open to gather the seeds.

Seed Pre-treatment

• Dutch iris are one of the few irises that grow from bulbs. Most iris grow from rhizomes and are easy to begin vegetatively with just a piece of rhizome. Dutch iris seeds need to be soaked and rinsed repeatedly over the course of two weeks. This removes the growth inhibitor that nature would remove with rain over time. Next, the seeds are soaked in a 10-percent bleach solution to prevent mold and put in refrigeration for 12 to 14 weeks. This is called stratification and mimics the cold conditions a seed would have experienced over the winter. After they are chilled, the seeds are soaked in hot water that is allowed to cool naturally. This process continues for five days.

Planting Dutch Iris Seeds

• The seeds are now ready to plant. They should have started germinating and can be set in small pots filled with wet sand. Ungerminated seed is returned to refrigeration for two weeks and the process is repeated. Place the pot where there is average light but temperatures are at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The seedlings need to be turned every day so the stem grows straight. Once the seedling is 5 to 7 inches high, harden it off by gradually introducing it to longer periods outside over the course of a week. Plant the hardened-off seedling in sandy to loamy well-drained but moist soil.