Marketing Name: Freckle Face

Id-Code: BA 026
Family: Iridaceae
Origin: Asia
Special Features: Charming bowl-shaped orange blooms with red-brown spots and decorative seed pods with shiny black seeds
Colour: Orange blooms with red-brown spots
Natural Flowering Period: July - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z5-9
Growth Habit: Upright habit and spreading by rhizomes underground
Foliage: Sword-like leaves
Height with Flowers: 60 cm (24'')
Spacing between Plants: 60 cm (24'')
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 7.2
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant in the border or mixed containers with Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow', Eragrostis elliottii and Trifolium rubens
Specialities: Beautiful cut flower - fresh or dried

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 Seeds: 50
Seeds per Gram: 20
Seeding Recommendation: 60 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 1-2 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
Germination: These seeds must be covered with a layer seed kernel diameter. Keep daytime temperatures at approximately +20°C [68°F], and keep the moisture constant. The seeds must be kept in the light and moderately warm after germination.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 6 - 8 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not necessary

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: There is no current research on vernalization but a prudent recommendation for any perennial would be 6-12 weeks (a few might need 15 weeks!) at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)