Hi I am in San Antonio, love irisis to death and would like to hear if anybody else is growing them in the area, and what is doing well. I have tried bearded and have not done well, acording to the site map bearded should do well, have been told each time I asked, but I don't think that I get cold enough. I live in a slightly warmer pocket by the river and Brackenridge Park. Rita.
iris to grow
Try Louisiana iris. They are much easier for me to grow than the bearded in our heat and humidity. Just don't plant too deep and don't mulch. They don't seem to like that. I don't have any pics, but check plantfiles for louisiana and you should get oodles of them. They are really tough plants.
I also grow LA iris (currently 37 varieties)--they do great here and mine will definitely suffer from sunscald if not mulched. I have added about 200 entries to the PlantFiles on LA iris. Here are some great and easy growing practices links for my favorite American native plant:
http://www.louisianas.org/cultivars/culture_book.html
http://www.zydecoirises.com/Culture/CultureZydeco.htm
http://www.louisianairis.com/gulf.states.htm#mulching
If you are looking to buy them--now is the time of year. They are usually shipped Sept-Oct. I recommend Zydeco Gardens; straight from the hybridizer Patrick O'Connor.
Debbie
This message was edited Jul 25, 2006 7:51 AM
Debbie that one is beautiful. I took a look at all the links you posted. Bookmarked them too. Good ones. Thanks!
Dancey--thanks! That one is Violet Ray (I'm pretty sure anyway). I'm not sure who is selling it right now--I've had it for 20 years. I would be very happy to give you that one at spring RU. I inherited a collection of these from a relative in New Orleans about 20 years ago. The LA Iris is actually the plant that got me started in this gardening addiction. Mostly I'm just a 'plant collector' but this is the one plant I have many of and just prepared another 20' x 8' foot bed for more. I was running a little low on them. =)
Hi, Rita. Some of my relatives live right off Broadway by Brackenridge Park. Although you live in a tad warmer area than I do, these Dutch iris have done well for me:
Dutch Iris 'Golden Beauty' (Iris x hollandica)
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/130211/index.html
Dutch Iris 'Eye of the Tiger' (Iris x hollandica)
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55942/index.html
Dutch Iris 'Blue Ribbon' (Iris x hollandica)
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/129402/index.html
Dutch Iris 'Oriental Beauty' (Iris x hollandica)
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/75573/index.html
I have a purple blooming bearded iris, but it did not bloom this year for some reason. I will check with my brother who had ordered and planted several different types of bearded irises last year to see how well they did and obtain their names if they did well.
I recently planted some bearded iris (9A zone) that I would call "heirloom" - my uncle raised these since the 1940's and 50's. He recently passed away (he was 102 years old) and I took a start from his garden in Oklahoma City in April in hopes that I could continue the plants and the memories of his beautiful purple and white iris that he so carefully tended. I know they aren't supposed to do well in 9A - but I'm hoping. They are still alive - but don't look great. If they bloom in San Antonio, htop, maybe they will here (near Conroe)? Anyone have any hope for these? I'm sure he and my mom are the reason I love gardening, so this means a lot to me.
Nancy
I only grow Lousiana's--but I'm sure somebody grows them. =)
thanks dmj - hoping someone's still awake and will see this! I know Louisiana's are the best for here. I grew them in my earlier gardener days (before kids) and will try again now that my (little) distractions are young adults! Sounds like you got your iris addiction the same way I did! God bless them all - they must be smiling down on us with our internet gardening community!
What's the best time to plant LA iris?
End of Sept through first of Nov works best for me--mid-Oct best.
Bookworm, some of the bearded will grow here. The ones I planted didn't do too well the first year and looked rather sickly. According to instructions, I planted them in full sun. I've since learned that full sun doesn't necessarily mean full Texas sun. I moved them to another location that got dappled shade from about 3:00 pm on and once they were established, they did well. They were never as robust as the Louisiana, but still beautiful. The only big problem I've had is on some of the reblooming ones I tried, the flower bud would form, but the flower stem would only be an inch or less tall so the bloom couldn't open properly and would remained "squished" by the foliage. Good luck with your heirlooms. I'm sure they'll be fine once you find a spot they're happy in.
Thanks so much DMJ and Crowelli. I'll probably move them to the side of the bed that gets a bit of afternoon shade. And I will get some LA iris so I get my purple iris "fix "fixed!
With all this discussion I went to the co-op thread to look for an Iris deal and they were all finished, has anybody got some plans about aan Iris co-op I would be interested win Dutch and Japanese.