Flower Gardens

» Ixia - Can I grow this one??

I tried growing this many years ago with no success. It needs a very specific climate. All of the places I have seen it growing have always been very dry and not much rainfall. Last time I saw it growing naturally was in a Botanic Garden. It was growing on the side of a road and it had just naturalised there with no care or attention - and in a very dry, hard, dusty area.

-- posted by Ixia

» Cottage_Garden - Can I grow this one??

Hmmm. Do you know how cold it would get where you saw it? The precip here is about ten inches -- in winter only. Some areas here are frost free, some might have a degree or two of frost.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

» Ixia - Can I grow this one??

Yes, it gets very hot where it grows and won't tolerate long periods of wet. I t will tolorate frost but not prolonged frosts.
Every place I've seen it grow, it has been dry, dusty, hot, arid, poor soil and sandy.
I had heard that you can get success in growing them planted in agricultural pipes standing up vertically, filled with sand. I think this stimulates warmth and good drainage, but I have never seen this method used myself.

-- posted by Ixia

» Cottage_Garden - Can I grow this one??

Sounds a bit like the Mojave. (grin) Soil in my neighborhood tends to be sandy and during summer is definitely warm, and it's absolutely dry and dusty where not watered.

The Los Angeles area is interesting, it is delightfully mild and cool close along the Pacific coast but warms up drastically as you move inland and lose the maritime influence. The opposing influence comes straight from the desert!

I'll have to see if I can locate some seeds. Thanks for your help!

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

» Ixia - seeds

Barbara,
I'll see if I can get some seeds for you. Give me time to check it out for you.

-- posted by Ixia

» Cottage_Garden - seeds

Oh wow -- Thanks!!

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

» Ixia - seeds

I've checked out our local nursery haunts and no luck so far with seed.
There is a native nursery I pass on my way to see my daughter so will check it out in a few weeks when I go there again.
They may be able to help. Will keep trying.

-- posted by Ixia

» Cottage_Garden - seeds

Thank you for looking! It occurs to me maybe I need to make sure the seeds can be imported here and there is no problem growing it in California, sometimes there are "invasive exotic" issues... I hope the arboretum librarian can help me out with how to find out what I'm not sure if I need to know.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

» Ixia - seeds

I've sent Canna Lily seed and Lilium seed to USA with no problems and also 1 Oz species before.
I have heard that USA is getting tougher with imports/exports but I'm not up-to-date with current restrictions.
If/when I find seed, we can do this privately.

-- posted by Ixia

» Ixia - source for seeds

Barbara,
I've found a source for the seeds. Contact me at ixia@dcsi.net.au before I proceed any further.

-- posted by Ixia