I
stood at the entrance to the display room for the Society for Louisiana
Iris Show and was riveted by the beauty of the numerous Louisiana
Iris bloom stalks. I hadn’t expected to see the range of colors,
the grace and form of the stalks, the multiple blooms on the many
stalks, or the combination of the colors. I went to the show to find
something native to plant around my pond, something which didn’t
require too much work and care. What I found was a permanent excitement
that fifteen years later led to a company called Louisiana Iris Farms,
LLC, which grows and distributes Louisiana Irises across the country.
Culture
of Louisiana Irises
Pond
of water culture of these irises takes care of almost all of the
necessary requirements. If they are planted along the bank or edge
of a pond, not much needs to be known or done. The irises are then
growing in their natural habitat. These plants were born in the back
waters of the alluvial deposits from the Mississippi River which
were regularly fed by the slow rise and fall of the bayous. The soil
was rich and wet. The seeds would travel with the flow of the bayou
and in later summer and early fall with the low water they would
germinate and take root. The established Louisiana irises would also
begin their new growth in those months, and as the waters began to
rise, so would their foliage. In the spring, when the water was the
highest, so were the Louisiana irises, which stood from thirty to
fifty inches, depending on variety, from the ground.Fortunately,
you don’t have to get into a pirogue and paddle into the marsh
to see these irises blooming. Louisiana irises are successfully grown
all over the U.S., as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa and parts of Europe and the Orient. And they are grown
in different ways with great success. Irises are adaptable, but with
each step away from their native habitat, they require some cultural
compensation. There are some proven steadfast rules for successful
cultivation; sun, wet feet during the growing season, mulch, fertilizer,
and an acidic soil.The natural pond’s edge is perfect for growing
irises. However, plant the rhizomes in as sunny an exposure as possible.
Irises need at least a half-day of full sun to bloom — the more
the better. Put the rhizomes about an inch into the ground and space
them about a foot to a foot and one-half feet apart. Since they multiply,
one this year likely produces two or three in the next year. Over
a couple of years a clump will form. If it grows too tightly bound,
the blooms diminish. Although they are ideally planted into about
six inches of water, the foliage should be well above the water’s
line. About six weeks after the last hard freeze, your efforts are
rewarded.In small ponds growers may keep the rhizomes in a pot. The
pot may be entirely out of the water, a couple of inches in the water,
or entirely submerged. By potting in containers without holes, soil
is kept from dirtying the water. In any event, I recommend that the
pot be at least ten inches in diameter with a depth of at least six
inches. The mixture of soil in the pot is not overly important, for
it supports the rhizome’s root structure and gives reinforcement
to the weight of the tall bloom stalk as it matures. Otherwise, the
stalk may tilt or fall into the water as the rhizome loses hold.
With the rhizome planted about one inch from the surface of the potting
soil mixture, the root system eventually advances all the way to
the bottom of the pot.Even though they prefer water and boggy conditions,
their adaptability is such that Louisiana irises can be planted in
numerous other locations. I don’t recommend rock gardens, but
since modern hybridizing began in the late 1940's, much of the plantings
have been under ordinary garden conditions. Accordingly, much has
been learned of the irises’ preference in soil conditions, preparation
of beds, planting, fertilizing, watering and mulching. An acidic
soil is a must for these plants. They will not perform well in alkaline
soils. The pH level should be 6.5 or less; any soil suitable for
azaleas and camellias is ideal for Louisiana irises. As you might
expect from its natural habitat, high soil fertility and organic
matter is also a needed ingredient for successful growing. Organic
matter can include peat, composted leaves, old sawdust, or nearly
anything with decaying nutrients.The best time to plant and divide
irises is just after they are coming out of their summer dormant
period. In Louisiana this is late August or early September. We have
found with proper care, the irises may be planted and divided after
bloom from April until June, but the preferred time is in late August
or early September.The blooming period in south Louisiana begins
in the last week of March and extends to the third week in April.
This blooming period is delayed about a week for every one hundred
miles further north.Louisiana irises are perennials and are grown
from rhizomes. The rhizome blooms only once, developing offshoots
that bloom the following year. After due time, the newly planted
beds will be full of offsets. For that reason, do not plant them
too closely together. As in the pond plantings, place each rhizome
about eighteen inches apart. When the clumps have become big or invasive,
divide them and replant. This is relatively easy since the rhizomes
are growing just below the surface. Dig them up, cut the foliage
back to within three inches from the rhizome, and then cut the rhizome
about two inches from the growth of the foliage. Cut the rhizome
just like you would slice a potato and then replant.If you cannot
replant right away, or if you have a bunch of extra rhizomes which
you want to share, put the rhizomes into water. Keep the top of the
foliage above water. They will store for a long period of time. To
insure bloom in Louisiana, the rhizomes need to be in the ground
by late October.Watering is also important to insure bloom. Watering
must be regular during the fall months after new growth has begun.
The beds should not be allowed to stay dry for long periods of time — not
more than one week. Obviously, since their natural habitat is very
moist to wet conditions, the more water the better.These irises respond
to nutrient-rich soil. An application of fertilizer is suggested
about two months before bloom. Established beds benefit from an application
of fertilizer at the start of the growing season and again a month
or so before bloom. Prior to bloom, it is not advisable to use fertilizers
which have a high nitrogen content to prevent excessive leafy growth
and early bloom. Early nitrogen feeding can make the iris stalk susceptible
to damage by a late freeze. I have been using 6-24-24 in mid-February
for the bloom season to start in late March. The closer the bloom
season, the more balanced a fertilizer you can use. If planting a
new bed, use about 2-4 pounds per 100 square feet of an 8-8-8 formula.Mulching
is another important factor in the successful growing of Louisiana
irises. Mulch helps maintain soil moisture as well as keeps weeds
under control. Also, it prevents the sun’s rays from burning
the shallowly planted rhizome, a condition known as "sun scald" that
can lead to deterioration and rot. This problem is prevented with
2-3 inches of rotted or semi-rotted leaves, pine straw, or any other
mulch cover.You don’t need to worry about mulching or sun scald
if the rhizomes are grown in water, but mulching is still very important
in colder areas. If you live in zones 4-6, a year-round mulch provides
a blanket of warmth and protection. Another consideration for growing
irises in colder zones is to plant them in May and early June so
that the plants can establish. Planting in later September or October
may delay bloom. Also in the northern zones fertilization is essential
to promote growth in a relatively short time. Liquid fertilizer such
as Miracid or Rapid-Gro Evergreen and Azalea Food may provide quicker
results. Apply the plant food every 3-4 weeks through the growing
season until after the bloom.
Flower
Arrangements
While
the Louisiana iris is attractive in the landscape, it is gorgeous
in flower arrangements. Cut the stems about two inches from the ground
and bring them inside. The combination of colors and variations of
the same hue are uniquely joined when placed together in the vase.
The flower stalk bears five to seven bud placements, and as one bud
expires, another flares open. Often two or more buds will open at
the same time. When a bud dies back, clip it off to allow the new
blooms to share center stage. Spacings between blooms on one stalk
are filled by the blooms from another stalk. Whether in the yard
or in the vase, the bloom stalk should last about a week. But the
whole floral arrangement in a vase, amended by new additions, may
last the entire season. Keep the vase full of fresh water.
Varieties
Select
easy-to-grow varieties of good garden value. Around the pond, select
colors for the desired landscape effect at the time of bloom. If
other plants or trees are blooming at the same time, integrate a
color scheme. Use many plants of a single color or cultivar. A continuous
iris planting from higher ground down to the shallows of the pond
to provide transition and continuity. If the pond is yet to be dug,
include contours of very shallow depths along the banks.In norther
climates, select varieties which are cold hardy. Varieties hybridized
from the native species I. brevicarlis survive better in colder
regions. These irises’ genetic background is from the upper
Mississippi Valley and Arkansas. When information is not available
on the genetic background of a particular variety, remember that
generally the smaller the iris is in stature, the more cold-tolerant
it may be. Another factor in selecting varieties for the colder zones
is the time the bloom will open. Varieties are classified in terms
of early, mid-season or later bloomers. Late blooming cultivars avoid
the risk of spring frost damage.However, for pond growing the general
rule for northern planting selection may not apply. Water retains
a tremendous amount of heat, and it gives off heat even as it freezes.
Most of the Louisiana varieties can be successfully grown in norther
water gardens. Grow I. brevicarlis hybrids in beds within
the yard and the taller, more cold-sensitive varieties in the pond.Each
variety should come from the supplier with the mature height range
of the foliage. Follow the usual garden protocol of placing lower
growing plants in the foreground and taller ones in the back.Annuals
often used for blending with irises in border plantings include petunia,
phlox, zinnia, marigolds, dusty miller, poppies, verbena, portulaca,
and larkspur. These suggestions show that the use of the iris with
other plantings is limited only by the willingness of the gardener
to try using them in border plantings.
Louisiana
Iris Farms, LLC
Admittedly,
those irises at the flower show hooked me for life. Shortly thereafter
I bought a fee bi-tone colorifics from Dr. Charles Arny. I continued
to regularly add to my collection until I had about 1,000 blooming
irises. But this mild addition was nothing compared to what happened
to my partner, Bob Cole.Bob and his wife came over one late afternoon
in early April for a boat ride to Abbeville to eat oysters. The irises
were in full bloom around the house. Before we left, I showed Bob
around. He hinted that if I had a few left over after an upcoming
digging and division weekend, he would like to give them a try. A
couple of weeks later, Bob returned to pick up a bucket full of plants
around his pond near the coulee (natural drainage ditch or small
bayou). The irises exploded in color the next year and he, too, was
hooked. But it didn’t end with a few at his pond.Bob has a rice
farm near Jennings, Louisiana, with one five-acre section that is
surrounded by a coulee and pine forest. There, with his backhoe and
massive John Deere tractor, he built iris beds and natural areas
where he could grow and propagate the rhizomes. Now he has over 100,000
Louisiana irises growing in sections of the various colors — white,
shades of light blue, dark blue, red, light purple, and wine. If
a pond grower wants anywhere from 50 to 2,000 of any of these colors,
Bob has them.On my farm in Lafayette, Louisiana, I grow almost two
hundred different registered varieties. A registered variety is a
hybridized Louisiana iris which has been submitted to the Society
of Louisiana Irises for registering. The person who has filed the
cultivar with the Society has determined that the iris has a distinctive
or different characteristic than other registered varieties.On both
farms we grow enough irises to fill mail orders from nurserymen and
individual growers. We formed a distribution company called Louisiana
Iris Farms, LLC. When an order comes in for registered varieties,
I fill it; when an order arrives for a quantity of a certain color,
Bob digs and ships them.The planting, growing, and enjoying of these
incredible plants has been fun for both of us. We hope that you will
find a spot in or near your pond or garden to give them a try.
Water
Gardening
Water
gardening has become very popular. The Louisiana Iris is a plant
very suitable for any water garden. If grown in the dirt of a pond,
its roots help hold the soil and filter the water. If grown in pots
placed in the pond, it adds a natural habitat for fish and provides
a rainbow of color during the spring bloom. The art of water gardening
cannot be complete without the Louisiana Iris.
The
Iris Flower
The
Louisiana iris flower in many respects resembles an orchid. There
may be as many as 4 to 5 blooms per stalk, depending on the variety.
As a cut flower, the Louisiana Iris will continue to bloom after
cut and placed indoors, and often will last for several days. Buds
that have not opened will open indoors. The Louisiana Iris Flower
makes a beautiful floral arrangement, either alone or with other
floral decorations.
