Need Iris growing info

Will iris grow in my area? I've not seen much in the way of bearded iris in my area, which makes me think they don't grow well here. We have Louisiana iris, but they're not quite the same as bearded iris. Does the lack of cold weather here have an adverse effect on them? Do they hate our humidity? Anyone in the Lower or Coastal south growing iris successfully? Where is the best place to buy them and the best conditions to plant them? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Stay with the LAs and be happy
inanda

I'm afraid that inanda's answer is correct. LA come in many colors including the best red and are best for your climate.

i planted a number of bearded iris this last year. i am hoping that you arent saying that they will not grow here. i have seen bearded iris in my area that have been growing with little or no care for many years. i have been told that the key is a very well draining soil and no cow manure, due to rot problems. so far, mine have been growing very well. of course, i only planted them at the end of last summer and in the fall. they have not gone through a real east texas summer yet.

tracie

There are iris growers in Texas, wonderful growers, but LA is different.

inanda

Edited to add.... Maybe buy a couple of bearded iris and see how they do. There are so many wonderful LA iris that I would really stick with them if I lived in LA.

This message was edited Jan 23, 2008 10:00 PM

East texas is a lot of LA in temperature and humidity. texas is such a big state, we have a lot of different climate zones and conditions. i am wanting to get some LA iris, also, but i really hope my beared ones do well!

tracie

I have seen bearded iris growing in New Orleans, and in Southern Mississippi. That doesn't mean that they are easy to grow there, but I am sure making the soil more neutral to alkaline and keeping them well drained will help a lot. I bet you can get some to grow if you are willing to fuss with them.

Just my 2 cents, they told me I can't raise Aril and Arilbred in the mid-atlantic states either. I think if you give irises the conditions they need they can grow just about anywhere. Although chrysographs are a annual here, I still like it enough to keep working with it until I get one to survive. I think if you made a raised bed with sharp drainage I think you could probably do well except for dwarfs which require a period of cold weather, however even there if they are potted and refrigerated I think you could grow even these.

I can not hurt to try.
PS English Dykes medal winners are usually a little hardier where wet is concerned
:)
Anita

We had a link posted to this forum a few months ago that might shed some light on growing iris in the deep South:

http://www.cdn-iris.ca/pots.html

This man is an iris grower in Enid, Mississippi, apparently a commercial grower. Now I realize that Enid is farther north than Covington, La, but not much farther north! I can't see how his conditions could be much different from yours. You might even consider visiting his Iris Farm for helpful hints.

I know I plan to the next time I am back in your neck of the woods.

Still more on Walter Moore and his Iris farm can be found at:

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2920/

He seems to be a hybridizer with some registered iris. His place is listed as North Central Mississippi. It looks lovely. Now this is a guy who can grow iris, it appears.

I think Walter used to live In TX or OK and perfected his growing there, and now adjusted to MS. Some people may have grown his 'Lemon Chess' (TB).

Could be. I have a farm in Mississippi and so far have only LA Iris there -- and not many of those. I would like to visit Mr. Moore's farm and see what he recommends for growing in that area.

Here is Lemon Chess from Walter Moore

http://www.pilmore.com/AIS2005E.html
these are pictures of Mr. Moores iris at the St. Louis Convention
:)
A

Love that Lemon Chess and also Confederate Muster. I hope I get to meet him this spring. By the way, nice website, Anita.
Betty

Walter is a wonderful gentleman. I have been blessed to have correspondence with him, and to gain some knowledge from him. I grow quite a few of his irises here. I'm sure he would be very helpful if you send him an email.

Walter only sells his current intros. Of the ones I have Violet Shimmer is a favorite.

I hope that eventually I will get to pay a visit to his farm and hear what he has to say about iris in the South. LA's are easy. I hope to start planting them along the edge of the lake.

OOOH, Two Different Worlds is heavenly! I think I'm going to have to try it, just to see. Glutton for punishment, I guess.

Aggiegrl, keep me posted on the progress of yours.
Thanks

i will defineately try to take some good pics this blooming season, (crossing fingers, hoping they will bloom)!

tracie

I'm excited to know that they grow in Mississippi. That's close enough to make me think they'll do ok here, and if you're in east Texas, that's close too. I will be sure they're in a well drained area.

I love my Louisiana iris, and have been getting them from a great place:

www.louisianairises.com

The quality is very good, and he always have a beautiful selection.

There is a poster on this forum, from time to time, from Ocean Springs, MS which is right on the coast. She has quite an iris collection as I recall, but I don't remember her name. There is a feature of Dave's Garden where you can "Find Dave's Garden Subscribers near you." Look for it under the Home tab. I am sure she would have plenty to tell you as well. Unfortunately, I have forgotten her name. Anyhow, we now know you can grow bearded iris. Over time I suspect you will meet lots more enthusiasts.
Have fun!

My parents grew up near Beaumont in East Texas and they grew bearded irises there. Aggiegirl, I would say there is some hope as long as your yard itself is not a bayou.

Polly - does Walter have a web site?

Walter does not have a website, but here are some of his irises. I know Superstition carries quite a few of them.

I'm sure he would love to hear from anyone.


http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2920/page2.html

pajaritomt thanks It is a work in progress I would like to add more to it during the winter, many of my TBs will be finding new homes so I can concentrate on ABs and Medians. I am also adding pubs first my own then hopefully others as well

If you would like for those going to the convention I can ask Walter if he will be attending
Anita

While you're at it Anita, why don't you ask him if he would like to join us here? I know he's on Gardenweb. Thanks.

I will certainly do that
:)
Anita

Thank you. I've always found his advice to be very helpful, and along with the great advice we get here from you and others, I think he would be a welcome addition.

Iris do grow well in Texas. I grew up near Waco and many gardeners grow them in that area. I now live in east Texas and grow them. Many in this area have them doing well. Most of mine are the older ones (names unknown) as I do not have any of the newer ones. The very rainy periods we had last year was not good for them but I only lost a few.
Plant in well drained soil and keep the dead and damaged leaves pulled off. Also do not let leaves or pine straw build up around them. I will see how the rain of last year does on the blooms for this year.
Would love to try some of the newer ones if any one is thinning theirs out.

Might I suggest historic tall bearded iris? The older iris survive in locations that just rot the newer varities. We find them growing around farms that have been abandoned for decades.

Historic iris come in a wild variety of colors & heights--I grow over 80 different old cultivars out of 325 iris clumps. They bloom in years when the modern iris just pout. I have a nationally registered display garden.

Here is a link to the official "Historic Iris Preservation Society" with pictures of many of the old tried & true beauties:

http://www.hips-roots.com/

or check the plant database for bearded iris registered 30 years+
I've posted pictures of all of my bearded iris.