This year (2019) I worked on hybridizing among a fairly comprehensive collection of Iris cristata cultivars, resulting in about 50 seed pods of hybrid seed. I'm covering the seed pods with organza-tie-bags to catch the seed, and checking them each day. Today I had two pods from my crossing Iris cristata 'Montrose White' with 'Navy Blue Gem'; those two pods yielded 62 seeds:
A view of just two pods that split open, the tie-bags work great to catch the seed.
Here without the organza bag, can see the bounty of hybrid seed more easily:
A closeup of the hybrid seed, aren't they shiny and beautiful? I counted 62 seeds from this harvest. I still have 22 pods waiting for ripeness and harvest.
Seed sown from two pods from my crossing Iris cristata 'Montrose White' with 'Navy Blue Gem'
After seed is sown, covered with a light layer of seedling soil and top dressing of fine aged bark mulch, it is protected with light gauge wire mesh to protect from digging chipmunks and squirrels.
Here's what the parent's look like. Iris cristata 'Montrose White' has flowers double the size of most white varieties, heavier texture, and well expressed golden crests, perhaps the BEST white cristata. The male parent is 'Navy Blue Gem' (true plant), a small-flowered variety with really deep blue flowers. Part of my entry into Iris cristata hybridization is to make obvious crosses to see what the outcome is and what traits are expressed. The results should be obvious.
