Propagation: Iris foetidissima lutea, 2 by Pistil

Pistil wrote:
10/2013 I bought some Iris foetidissima var lutea from Aitkens Salmon Creek Gardens, that they said were from a North African provenance. I planted them in my new dry shade garden. Aitkens had sent some seed pods with my order, probably to show me the beautiful berries I can expect. I decided to plant them. It was hard to find info on how to do this, there seemed to be some indications of a need for double dormancy (2 separate winters), or other special treatment.

I did a little experiment. I divided up the seeds into 6 groups:
1-planted whole berries in 4" pot, put outside in shade.
2- cleaned off the flesh, planted seeds in 4" pot, put outside in shade.
3- cleaned, nicked with a knife, planted seeds in 4" pot, put outside in shade.
4- cleaned off flesh, planted in 4" pot, put in fridge a month, then outside.
5- planted whole berries outside in the dry shade garden. Had used Preen there in the spring.
6- cleaned, soaked in 120 degree water 24 hours (they did swell), planted 4" pot put out with the others.

Results- I just looked, and between November and now I have some sprouts!
Interestingly, despite the inhibitors that are usually present in whole berries, the best germination (5) was in the pot of whole berries. The only other one thus far to have any (2) is the one that I cleaned and soaked. I haven't pulled away the pine needles in the actual garden to see if any there are coming up.

So- this does seem to confirm Dr. Deno, who said they need a 40-70-40 treatment, and germinate during the second cold period. Interesting that the lack of removal of the flesh of the berries was actually a positive, despite the books saying seeds should be cleaned off.
Now I have to decide when to fertilize and transplant them. I had started them in Miracle Grow Seed Starting Mix, which I think doesn't have much in the way of nutrients.

Wow, I have 7 free plants!

p.s my new name is Pistil, changed from mlmlakestevens.