Need Help and Info Please

I'm 51 and have Multiple Sclerosis and want to plant bearded Irises. I get hot and tired easily (humidity and a high dewpoint affect me too) and try to get done what I can during the growing season.

I need to know from all of you which Irises you think and know........

grow 'slow'

grow 'moderate'

grow 'fast'

I then can decide which beauties to plant and which ones would be better suited for me because of my MS. I can't usually do anything in the garden during the Summer, because it's too hot for me. I usually can work in the garden during the cooler and windy days. That's why Fall is the best time for me, with Spring second.

I've already have seen photos of some Iris I would love to plant, but don't know how fast they'll increase and need to be divided. It would be great to grow some that won't be 'on the fast' side. 'Slower' would be great for me.

I've thought that the reblooming ones would be great and I already planted 'Best Bet' this Fall, which is my only Iris. The Irises don't have to be reblooming either, I've seen some Iris that are beautiful that aren't

Please help. Thanks!

Marilyn

Marilyn,

You've asked a very difficult question because the same cultivar that grows rampantly in one garden may grow very slowly in another. In fact, many iris growers have reported that the same iris growing in two different spots in their garden behave completely differently depending on the microclimates of the exact spots in which they're planted. Any replies you receive to your query need to be taken in that context. Folks can only comment on the growth they have experienced or seen, which may or may not have anything at all to do with how any particular iris will perform in your own garden.

As a general rule, rebloomers are more likely to be aggressive growers (at least that's my understanding). The more quickly they can grow rhizomes to maturity, they more frequently they can bloom. In my own garden, my most vigorous TBs are either modern rebloomers or historics (oncers or rebloomers).

You might get the most useful suggestions from your nearest iris club. They, at least, can tell you which irises tend to grow slowest in your geographical and climatic area. You can locate your local iris affiliate here:

http://www.irises.org/ais607.htm

Happy irising,

Laurie

Hi Laurie,

Thanks so much for the info!

What you stated makes a lot sense to me. Thanks! I really appreciate it!

I'll check into some of the clubs and see what they say. Thanks for the link!

Marilyn

You're welcome, Marilyn. Something else you should bear in mind is that the cultivars that are slower growing will also tend to be your poorest performers, offering few bloomstalks and possibly not even blooming every year. There will be a definite trade-off for choosing such slow growers.

You might want to consider a different strategy. Contact your local iris club or any other gardening clubs in your area, and explain your situation. Ask if any of the members would be willing to help divide your irises in exchange for extra rhizomes. You might find that they'll be THRILLED to help you care for your irises in such an arrangement. That way, you can enjoy vigorous, floriferous clumps with very little additional investment of your own effort in their maintenance.

Laurie

Hi Laurie,

Thanks again for the great information!

I'll have to look for the Irises you mentioned.....

"Something else you should bear in mind is that the cultivars that are slower growing will also tend to be your poorest performers, offering few bloomstalks and possibly not even blooming every year. There will be a definite trade-off for choosing such slow growers."

I'll try and find some like you mentioned. That's something to think about - the trade off. Maybe I'll just try ( try?! lol ) and grow a couple I really like and 'deal with it'.

I'll have to think about your last suggestion, but thanks so much!

Marilyn

Thought more about it today and I decided I'll just grow Irises and when I can get to thinning them, that's what I'll do. That's what I do now in my garden, "just get to it when I can".

Thanks for all your help Laurie!

Marilyn

This message was edited Dec 3, 2006 7:48 PM

This message was edited Dec 4, 2006 6:55 PM