My understanding is you can't find Iris seeds. They're hard to get to germinate. A lot of places will sell seedlings, but not the seeds. As for Siberian Irises, you have to hybridize them like TB's. Take those seeds and hope they germinate. I have yet to find one place that sells just the seeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: hybridizing siberian Iris

Hi Darlene87,

I have never grown them from seed and like you have never seed the seed for sale anywhere. One 'might' watch ebay for a hobby gardener that might save and sell it.

I have a clump of Siberians, and see there are some swelled green seed pods on them. If you would like, you can check with me later (1-2 months) and have me check and see if the pods have dried enough to harvest the seed. I would then share some for postage cost.

Here is a pic of the ones that now have seed pods, if you might be interested.

{{gwi:1025864}}

Sue

A nice lady sent me some Caesar's Brother OP for a couple of postage stamps.

First I gave them a cold treatment in a small baggie with some moist vermiculite on Oct 1st, took them out of the fridge and sowed in a flat on Jan 7th, they germinated Feb 5th under flourescent lights.

Sharon

Another method for seedling starting is to just plant them in the ground in the fall. They will sprout the following spring.

You might try looking at the Lily Auction for seeds. The site is predominantly for daylilies but occasionally people post other plants or seeds. I saw bearded iris seeds for auction there last winter. You can set an e:mail alert to let you know when things you are looking for are placed on auction.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Lily Auction

Hi Darlene78
Eddie Johns who is a Siberian and Japanese Iris whizz has a new site which I visited yesterday where he goes through the process with pictures of growing Japanese Iris seed.Take it from me growing Siberian seed is the same process.So check it out

Here is a link that might be useful: NZATA@OTARABIRCH

Hi Darlene78,
Growing Siberians from seed is very easy. If fact if the seed in viable then it will grow like hairs on a cats back. Most seed that maybe available to you is OP meaning open pollination of seed from bees and other insects etc. Seed that has been hand pollinated is used by different growers only. This is often in very limited amounts as he or she has selected various named varieties to cross in the process of hybridization to create the possibility of future new varieties. So If you have some offers from people posting you some seed ( About a tablespoon or two of seed ) them by all means take that opportunity to give it go. Caesar's Brother is a great variety to try. I will see if i have some still here in New Zealand and will let you know. Only to happy to post some to you if there is seed available.

The seed, once harvested when the pods turn a tan or brown colour, are best kept over the summer and fall season stored in a envelope in a dry place. Then prepare your seed in the winter about 3 months' before you are ready for a mid spring sowing. Treat them as like in my blog site similar as for Japanese iris seed. If you sow them in late summer the tiny seedlings will germinate in the fall but may not survive through the winter. Spring sowing I find gives me best results.

In Siberian seed,the same as Japanese and all other water loving iris seeds, there is a natural germination inhibitor which needs to be broken down or leached out before any seeds with germinate. I found the easy way is to soak the seeds in a bowl of Luke warm water to start off and leave overnight (12 hours). Then drain seed of water and put the seeds in a small plastic zip lock bag. To the bag add a ratio of 2 tablespoons of moist brown peat moss to one tablespoon of seed. The peat is acidic. This will break down and soften the outer hard seed coating as well as neutralizes the natural inhibitor. If the peat is dry add 3 or 4 tablespoons of water just to make it moist in the bag and lightly mix in with seeds. (Not overly wet please)

Squeeze out extra air of the bag and zip lock. If you have several different seeds lots or varieties then put in individual bags, label, and treat the same. Place the small bags in a container or bigger zip lock bag just to keep then all together. Place in the bottom of your fridge or veggie tray ( NOT The freezer ) as per instructions on my blog. Leave undisturbed for 10 to 12 weeks. Then prepare to sown your seed in trays or pots.

I take the zip lock bags from the fridge and open the small bag. I add about 5 or 6 tablespoons of dry washed river sand to the moist mixture in the bag and very gently fold into peat/ seed mixture to make the mixture dryer and flow able or easy to sprinkle as evenly as you can into the trays or pots of seed sowing mix. I cut the end of one corner of the bag as to make a large hole like a piping bag to ice a cake and use the bag to then lightly shake out to sprinkle evenly. Cover the seed with dry washed river sand and lightly water in. ( When sand is on the dry side it is easy to handle and spread.)

Put tray or pot in a green house or glass house or large inflated plastic bag. Place in a warm sunny position. Germination will begin from 10 to 15 days. Keep moist with a light watering daily but not over watered. Prick out these grass like seedlings into individual pots when 3 to 4 cm (1 1/2 inches) high. Treat as young plants till they are about 20 to 30 cm ( 8 to 12 inches) in height with good green foliage and nice white roots then prepare your ground outside in the garden and you are ready to plant out. Flowering will begin the following year.

Here is a link that might be useful: nzataatotarabirch.blogspot.com/

Hi Darlene,

I have been quite successful Winter Sowing Siberian Iris seeds. There is a forum devoted to this topic here on Garden Web.

I have purchased siberian iris seeds from the SIGNA.

Kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: SIGNA

eddz,
Looked for a way to e:mail you privately but no e:mail visible on your member's page and your blog link comes up with "blog not found".

Thank you for your post to Darlene about starting Siberian Iris from seed. Very informative. I was wondering, if the purpose of the peat is for the acid to break down the inhibitor, do you suppose coffee grounds would work too?

I don't have peat handy but always do have coffee grounds. Just curious if it would be worth a try.