We are still trying to identify plants that are growing in the flower beds at this house. There are 2 clumps of two different irises that put out a few blooms each year but the clumps take up a good deal of space and I want color rather than just green. Both clumps are evergreen but are 2-1/2'x2-1/2' or so and about 18" tall. One clump is African Iris (Bicolor Iris, etc) and it put out a few flowers last year and the rest of the time just kind of sits there. The other has a bloom like a Louisiana Iris (as opposed to a bearded iris), is 3 petaled white w/some light lavender short stripes in the throat. It bloomed in January. Each bloom lasted one day, closed up and stayed like that for several more days. There were a total of 5 blooms. The clump is the same size - approx. - as the Bicolor and again just takes up space where I would prefer color. If this is the temperament of the two I would prefer digging up and throwing them away as they really add nothing to the garden. Then there are some rather large clumps of Liriope - solid green and green w/white - (I'm guessing at the name) that need to be divided so that they can be used further as border plants. Is this easily done? Can it be done now? Thanks in advance for your advice. I know most of you on this forum know all these common plants so it should be a piece of cake for you. LOL
I am editing to say that Liriope is probably not the name of this bunch of grassy plant that borders the beds. Can't find the name of the plants but is very common and really looks like a big brother of mondo grass or ?.
Ann
This message was edited Feb 4, 2009 8:32 AM
Dividing irises
I would not move the LA Iris before they bloom in mid-March to April; or else you will probably disrupt their bloom this year.
Debbie
Edited to avoid double posting.
Ann
This message was edited Feb 4, 2009 8:40 AM
Thanks Debbie. But they have already bloomed unless they rebloom.....
Ann
LA Iris bloom for me mid-March to April, an occasional stray bloom in Jan-Feb but not as a rule.
Thanks, again. Lots for me to learn!
Ann
Ann, none of my LA iris or bearded have bloomed either. Once the rhizome blooms, that one won't bloom again, but will put out new shoots to the side of the old rhizome. Once the area becomes crowded with rhizomes that have already bloomed, you'll need to divide them in order to get more blooms. Once they've bloomed and gone dormant, you can cut the new side shoots off the rhizomes off, trim the tops down to 2 or 3 inches tall and replant them. Next year you'll have a bumper crop of blooms. I think the best time to do this is August or September in order to have blooms the following spring. Debbie can probably tell you for sure on the time to divide. I'm not as familiar with the African iris, so won't give any advice on that. I do also have some crested iris that bloom earlier, but they haven't bloomed yet either.
Hope this helps some.
Crow
Its probably some sort of species Iris
Sorry, I don't understand what you are talking about in phrase "probably some sort of species Iris".
Ann
There are a lot of species of Iris other than bearded, LA's, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_(plant)
Went to wikipedia and found nothing. I think I understand what you are saying, tho but at the time I didn't understand to whom you were speaking. Thanks so much for your time on this.
Ann
Ann ~ I have been unhappy with Dietes Bicolor ~ African iris. For me it is not at all generous with blooms. I think they require perfect conditions to bloom and I haven't unlocked the secret. I suspect the other one you described might be Dietes vegata? Does the bloom favor this link? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/572/ I think for your space, these will deliver color for a short period of time and you will probably want to remove them. The foliage does have a certain amount of interest but....
As far as foliage, I bet you are correct on the liriope and would say whenever you want to remove it, get after it! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53516/
So tell me what you want to plant for more color?
Thanks, Pod, for your assistance. When I had the Bicolor at another house it worked well and performed well but it was as bed I had designed myself and the grassy look was what was needed in that particular spot. The iris that you pointed me toward is much more colorful than what we have and while the form of the flower is nice, it's just "white" w/no other redeeming features. I think I'm going to dig and get rid of those 2 and the huge blooming Sago. That way I will have room in one bed for a great big orange BOP and the little orange Ixora and then I can separate the lirope (yes, that's what it is) and make a nice border of both the solid green and the variegated instead of just having a patch or 4 of the two which just kind of floats there instead of melding in. This will all share the bed w/a 10' tall Loquote (orange fruits LOL) and backed by nonblooming azaleas and ligustrums that really need to come out but they aren't in the way so I'll keep them for now. The Iris is in another bed across the walk and that will come out and I'll have lots of room for the 6 Tiffany roses in the really full sun. I want to put in Blue Daze over there where there is a tipped-over pot so that it appears there is "water" running out of it. Then I'll have room for a couple of tomatoes and some bush beans and coleus and caladiums (it's a good size bed) plus some cosmos making this a pink, blue, green and white garden w/a lot of space left over. I already have mint in there but right now it isn't doing much but it will make a good ground cover among all that when it gets going. There is still plenty of lirope to make a decent border. The former owners had put down flat whitish stones stacked 2-3 deep for a permanent border so everything will then come together in both beds. Thanks for being a sounding board . Ireally tend to ramble.
Ann
Ann ~ it wouldn't possibly be a walking iris would it? Neomarica gracilis? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2108/
BTW, the loquats you sent are doing well ~ thank you again!
Unfortunately, no, not a walking iris. At this point I don't care anymore as I'm going to have it dug and thrown away.
I'm so glad the loquots are doing well. They are easy. All my red lilies are up and looking healthy. Luckily everything that I've traded for or that people have given me are looking good. With my luck, tho, if it costs a lot of money it's going to die. LOL
Ann
I hear ya! LOL Your blend of oranges in color sound beautiful!
List whatever you don't want on freecycle and someone will want it. If you don't know what it is then put a picture of it on the listing. Free will get someone to do the digging for you!
Everyone on the Texas Forum is so nice and helpful and doesn't talk down to me as if I were something found in the garden that was most undesirable. On the rare occasions that I have gone to other forums they treated me like I was a dunce and to say the least I didn't feel welcome at all. Not all of them and not all the people - just some of them. Thank you all who have tried to help me. I probably already had my mind made up and didn't know it and the alternatives you suggested just intensified my ideas.
Ann
I think it is fun to move to a new place and watch thru the seasons to see what other gardeners have planted. Some folks might prefer a blank slate but I like a puzzle. It is fun to see what you find. Looks like a beautiful day ahead. Everyone have a great one!
That's an interesting take on it Pod. I never thought of it that way. I've always been just the opposite, depending on the garden. I'd rather have a blank slate than a lot of "undesirables" needing taken out. I hope I never have to remove another ligustrum, cast iron plant, elephant ear, ginger, or jasmine ground cover as long as I live. My huge corner lot was covered in these things and they had all run wild. I think the ginger was the toughest to remove. It was that variegated stuff that's become so popular over the past 5 years or so. It had turned into a dense, raggedy thicket in my back yard and the roots were almost impossible to get out. They were even worse than the ligustrum roots.
Ann, I'm glad you found the Texas forum and I can't imagine why anyone would "talk down" to you. We all have our strong points as well as our weaknesses. Nobody knows it all and I'm sorry some of those other forums were rude. I know a lot about some plants and nothing at all about others. That's why Dave's is so great because we have such a free sharing of knowledge and can cover most any question or problem by someone. Just ignore those people and stick with us over here!
Crow
I already have the Dunce Crown taken so you are in no danger of getting it. hahhaha
Christi
But you don't have the spanking paddle. That's reserved for me.....
Ann
Girls, girls... no spitting contests here! LOL
Regarding the plants puzzle, I find I am drawn to old abandoned homeplaces throughout the seasons to watch what pops up. I saw one from the road and never stopped to go look but there was a red rose of some sort that had climbed up a tree about 10 feet high. I am not a rose enthusiast (thorns) but admired the beauty and tenacity of that plant and actually thought about taking cuttings. Naw ~ I think that is why I didn't stop. Anyway, those old homeplace "plantings" charm me.
oh come on pod I want to see who can spit the furthest ...hahahahaha
I have to pop in and agree this is the best place I have found to be and wonderful for finding help ...I have yet to have anyone talk/treat me in any way other then with loving kindness.
Christi ya better watch what ya say you have or you might really end up with a hat ya know ...hahahaha..you know I have been known to do some silly things :)
ooooops!!
Hey, everyone! I'm new to the forum and I hope the dunce cap is put away and out of sight! LOL! My husband and I moved to our "old homestead" almost 4 years ago, but with the almost complete renovation that's gone on, I've had a little time to see what all's been planted here over the different years. I didn't know at the time what it was, but a plant out back in the middle of nowhere bloomed. I loved it, took cuttings and low and behold - it's a beautiful lantana that's been moved, multiplied and moved again! My actual question is this: there are two different "obvious beds", planted on purpose, that are extremely crowded and not blooming. One comes up with a sort of stiff, pointed green leaves in Jan/Feb (?) and then bursts into beautiful white blooms - it's a sea of white. Not sure what it is. The other's more of an evergreen leaf that was planted around a pecan tree when it was very young and is now so crowded that the leaves are growing up next to the trunk. I remember one bloom, 2 or 3 years back, it was only 1 flower and I believe it was purple. Nothing since. I dug up some of it and was amazed at the mass of rhizomes that were literally growing on top of each other, some places 4 deep! The rhizomes look kind of like crawfish? they're a cream/white color. Any help on id of these two plants would be greatly appreciated!!
Sorry for the length!
Deb
Hi Deb ! Welcome, I'm glad you joined in.
Not Sure what your second one is ~ if evergreen perhaps it is an iris?
I would bet from the description of your first plant it is Narcissus ~ Jonquil. Does this photo favor those blooms?
Welcome Deb!!!!!
I bet pod is right on the first one and maybe if you can get a picture of the second one someone can help tell you what it is
and as far as the dunce cap goes ....we don't have any around here it is just joking around to me there is no dumb question ...... there are so many great friendly helpful people here on the forums
Phyllis, have you seen the information concerning Charlenesplants DH? He is in heart failure in a Houston hospital.
Christi
Thanks, podster - yep, that's probably a narcissus, only mine are all white. Last year they didn't bloom - I'm hoping it's maybe due to such a "mild" winter. I'm hoping this year they'll be back. Maybe I should divide them?
I'll try to figure out how to get a picture downloaded and send it tomorrow. And thanks, Phyllis, I agree - there do seem to be really nice, helpful folks here!
Tomorrow I'll show pics of the roots of the "mystery" plant along with the foliage.
Thanks!
Deb
Photos are pretty easy to post so you shouldn't have any problem. On the division, I would mark the area where they are but wait till the foliage yellows. The foliage is what stores nutrients for the next years blooms. Sounds like the other mystery plant is in need of division for sure and if it is Iris, that one is best divided in Oct... Looking forward to the photos.
Christi, I hadn't known that Charlenesplants DH was in Houston hospital. Does she have family or friends here to stay with? Any word on how he's doing?
Crow
Sorry, I don't have any details. She posted on the prayer forum and I am hoping she will update. This just happened yesterday morning.
Sorry, I don't have any details. She posted on the prayer forum and I am hoping she will update.
She posted on the 7th and said they were going to Methodist Hospital in Houston.
Thanks Cristi, we'll watch for an update.
So much for posting the pics today! I've been out and about all day - hopefully tomorrow. And pod, too late for the one bed of the "mystery" plant - I'd already started digging them up before I thought to look up WHEN they should be dug up! No fear, I have another whole bed of the same plants. Thanks for your help,
Deb
Deb ~ It won't hurt the iris to be dug now. They just will skip this bloom cycle. You certainly won't harm them. And at least it is cooler to dig right now.
Any word on Charlenes' DH? I will say he is in the best place for first rate medical care. As hard as it was to leave home, we logged many days at Methodist ~ Houston and if the Drs said to go again, we would! Other than our prayers, we can't do much for him, my thoughts are with Charlene. Hope all is well.
I could offer lodging and moral support if anyone knows how to reach Charlene.
Crow
That is a sweet offer Crow, I hope Charlene knows she does have support on DG. Prayers are going out for her DH and for her.
She has answered on the prayer forum. They are home tonight. John will be on insulin now as high blood sugars were what caused him to go into heart failure. Wish I knew how to do links.
Christi