Any Deep South BEARDED iris gardeners?

Hello, I've been an avid Louisiana gardener for 25 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. I'm very happy with all the beds in my garden (shade area, new roses area, antique roses area, Louisiana native area, annuals area, perennials area, lots of container gardening). However, for many years, I have longed to grow bearded iris as my grandfather did (he was up in Kansas). I grew White Cliffs of Dover as a child quite successfully here, but my parents somehow managed to kill it when I went away to college. =( While my husband and I created new gardens at each house we've owned, I would often revisit the idea of bearded irises, but I met with lots of comments from other avid gardeners in our area regarding the probability that any beardeds I planted would rot before bloom. Now that I've fulfilled my other gardening desires, I've decide to chuck all that nay-saying aside and try anyway. I am seeking advice from anyone here who actually lives in the deep south (or knows someone successfully growing beardeds in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida) that can offer me their own tips and experiences.

I would also appreciate anyone who can direct me to good sources of rhizomes for cultivars introduced by the two hybridizers from the south: Walter Moores and Bernice Miller. I have received advice from several irisarians that beginning with cultivars that were bred in the South would give me a better leg up on finding cultivars that can thrive here.

Thanks for any info!

I can't help with many of your questions, but I can with the info about Walter Moores irises. Mr Moores is a lovely gentleman who contributes often to the iris forum on Gardenweb, and I have had the pleasure to have had many email correspondences with him. He has taught me a lot about bearded irises. Very free giving info.

Superstition carries many of his intros, as does Mid America. The last Mr Moores said, he was not selling his own intros commercially, and was cutting back on hybridizing.

Thanks for the reply. =) I too have had much correspondence with Mr. Moores. I found him early on in my quest to identify the best cultivars and he's been so helpful to me! You're correct; he is not selling his own intros commercially anymore. I have ordered his newer cultivars that were offered by both Mid-America and Superstition, but I haven't had much luck finding the older ones.

I also haven't had luck finding planting and care advice for the true deep South. While Mr. Moores is growing his just 4 hours north of me, the climate and topography are very different... so I am hoping to find others who are a bit more south who could offer some advice.

He is a sweetie isn't he?

have you checked Blue J for some of the older ones? I remember he also mentioned Suttons carried some of them.

Good luck to you!

I am in Texas(at the top, very close to Louisiana border), and I consider myself deep south.

Mine all grow just fine here.

Well... the topography, soil and climate are very different between south Louisiana and North Louisiana. Once you hit about Alexandria (midway up the state), the terrain becomes less flat and the soil has a lot less gumbo clay. There are many things that they can grow up there that just won't thrive here... such as many cultivars of dogwood. I would guess it's a similar situation for Texas... Houston and Dallas, for instance, have very different climates. Houston is essentially the same as our weather here in Baton Rouge, but Dallas gets a lot more frost in winters and the humidity level is much lower.

Are there any cultivars that perform particularly well for you? I would love to give them a try!

Seedpicker... I looked it up because I was curious how much the difference was between our areas. Plano is about 10 degrees colder on average for the four winter months than we are, and your rainfall is 40 inches each year compared to our 65+ inches each year. Ahhh, I long for a drier climate where rot wasn't such a challenge!!!

I had hoped I would get some responses from the wetter regions... primarily Mississippi and Alabama. While the temps do get a bit colder in winter over there, they can be just as wet as we are.

Any bearded iris growers over there???

Ok, well I can say this...with as much as we have to water, I'd imagine you can easily add 20 inches to that 40, or more. Not much would live here, if we counted only on that rainfall, ...especially in the summers :0)

During the three hotest summer months when we get in the 100's, I water every single day(we don't have a sprinkler system). So, even at a meager 1/2 inch a day(which evaporates in hours in 107 degree heat), for three months, that alone adds 45 inches.

Also, my iris are all planted on little hills. Not real noticeable, but slightly higher than the surrounding plants. I've never had them rot...even the little sdbs...

Why don't you try some "giveaway iris"(I see free iris for postage postings, a lot). That way you can try some and see, without spending much money on "special ones"?

I'm mainly looking for strategies that gardeners in the rainier, more humid regions use to keep their rhizomes from rotting.... as well as cultivar names for those that have been able to stand up to the climate here in tried and true gardens.


This message was edited Aug 13, 2008 11:54 AM

My mother got a tip many years ago from a little old lady who'd grown bearded irises for years. The advice was to pull the soil away from the roots once they are established until the roots are just barely covered with soil. So when we built my mom a house on our property and she moved in with us last year, we put the irises in a raised bed on the east side of her house and scraped the soil away bit by bit over the course of a couple of months. Not only did they bloom like crazy, but they multipled five-fold. Keep in mind that the soil underneath the raised bed was very sandy and that probably had something to do with preventing rot. I don't know what cultivar she has - it's somewhere between white and lavendar.

Pillita, thank you! I wondered if anyone had tried something different with the roots. I've got mine started in a vermiculite mix with lots of sand... so friable that I had to use braces on a few of the smaller ones to keep them upright while they are rooting in the mix. I had wondered whether it would be possible to aerate the roots too much by keeping the dirt too lose above them, but your post is encouraging! With our high humidity, it's not likely the roots would completely dry out, but I was nervous to try without some feedback. Again, thanks for the post!

Are you speaking of roots or rhizomes? The fleshy rhizomes should never be
covered except for possibly a newly planted one and then it is recommended
not more than an inch of loose soil. All my irises have lateral feeder roots not
more than an inch or so below the surface. With a raised bed of 8 inches or
so, made of sand with humus added, there should be no drainage problem
regardless of the amount of rain.

Yes, I'm speaking of the roots, not the rhizomes. I've grown Louisiana iris for years, so I'm familiar with the terminology... but the cultures for growing the two types are soooo completely different! Drainage is not our only issue down south... we have no wind to counter the high humidity that can keep the rhizomes constantly damp. The problem is, we also have periods of extremely high heat and have been known to have an occasional drought in the middle of all the humidity! So, if you leave the rhizomes completely uncovered all the way down, they can end up dampened first from the humidity and then cooked in the sunshine! It's a tricky combination, which is why I'm looking for successful growing strategies.

What I'm thinking at this point is bringing the soil down to the bottom of the rhizome, only covering the roots with the rhizome exposed on top... then add a layer of about an inch of vermiculite on top to wick out extra moisture while still keeping the nutrients and needed moisture available for the rhizome and roots to draw as needed. What do you think?

Im in the South, but I can't be of much help. I have a lot of iris but they are not blooming. Lots to learn.

Gloria, that's exactly why I'm looking for info! I've had quite a bit of communication with one of the few Southern hybridizers about cultivars that will perform well here... but the further south you go, the more it's hit or miss. You might try looking at the Reblooming Iris Society's weblist of those cultivars that have rebloomed in the South. Some are actually being grown in Zone 9 (and blooming!), but I don't know who's growing them. They show up in the reports though, so I know someone is seeing blooms that far South... at least for those cultivars.

How long have yours been in the ground? Maybe they are cultivars that require establishment before bloom???

Gloria... one more question... If you are not seeing root rot, what planting culture are you using for your beardeds? Thanks for any info!

ha. they are just out on the edge of the woods, waiting for me to put them in a more suitable place. No culture at all. they have been there since the 1970s and some are more than 50 years old.

I have one purple and several white ones that bloom. the rest don't.

Ive noticed around town, that the early ones do bloom.

Ahhhh, Gloria, if you haven't dug and divided in that long, I'm guessing they are not blooming due to iris decline. Beardeds like to be dug periodically; it encourages them to bloom. You might have a lovely display next year if you simply divide out the rhizomes a bit and replant. Now is actually the best time of year to dig, as well.

Some one has offered me daylilies so Ill have my shovel out!

ive been hoping to start some historic iris once I get a place fixed for them.

Im hoping these will take off, once they have a home.

I live in central Alabama, zone 8. I brought some iris from momma's place in Nebraska. She had a huge iris bed along one fence. The weather and soil are much different in Nebraska than here. Momma told me to not cover the rhizomes down here. She said to loosen the soil and make the area for the roots lower. Put the soil back over the roots, pressing down, but not breaking the roots. Then bring the soil around the rhizome just enough to hold it it place. I also don't have them planted where they get sun all day. One area gets midday, and the other filtered but more light than shade. One area is where the ground slopes a little where water will never stand. The other area is where we had 2 truckloads of topsoil brought in when we had a veggie garden.
Yhe main thing with a lot of rain is that you cannot put them in an area where the water would stand, it has to drain. Iris don't like to go swimming!! :O)
My mother gave me good advice as I still have those iris from 10 years ago. Her philosophy was pretty much keep the weeds out, water and leave them alone. She always had beautiful flower gardens, no spraying and no fertilizing. She'd tell me, "don't be so fussy".
I don't like vermiculite or perlite and do not use it on any plants. If nothing else, why not a raised bed where it will get morning to early afternoon sun. You'll have the drainage and they won't cook. Momma only watered them good once a week unless it rained good and I do the same. Mine do bloom. I can't say what variety as it didn't matter. I was just getting some of momma's flowers not something for show or spew out some botanical name. She's now in a nursing home and my brother sold her house but she has flowers still growing - in Alabama.
Lynn

I dont know about the newer hybrids, but the old fashioned flags that were used once upon a time to mark property corners, I have growing still from a gift of my paternal grandfather who lived in Tishomingo, Okla since 1988? down here in Huntsville. They are simply dark purple bearded iris, rhizomes require vit d(sun),roots require drainage, so raised beds by at least 3", cow manure ( dairy cow manure, n mine was green, not bagged) every 2 or 3 years, some live on top of straw bales, one lives on the edge of a hole in the ground 1' above the waterline, ( i suspect a gnome) they do get afternoon shade after about 3pm. I've always considered them a grateful plant-that would take what u throw at it n keep on going. Lots of neglect. Good Luck

We moved into this house 9 years ago, there was an above ground pool at the time. We had a newborn and never got around to maintaining the pool. One winter, an icestorm tore the thing to shreds. The following spring I decided to remove it. Previous owners left receipts for major purchases showing they had added hundreds of pounds of sand (where the pool was to be). There was also pine bark mulch. So now I have the perfect spot for growing iris. The only thing I've added over the years is a couple bags of potting mix, cow manure, compost and leaves from two trees in the back yard. It's a work in progress, I'm embarrassed to say I let the weeds go too far this year. ;)

I planted some yellow TB Louisiana Iris last year that a friend of mine gave me. They've done very well without any help at all from me lol. I just dig a hole put them in and thats it. They haven't bloomed for me yet (still waiting). The friend that gave them to me does hers the same way for years and the bloom great everytime like crazy. Sometimes she can doesn't even dig a hole just put dirt on top of the roots and away they go. She lives in Lake Charles. Hope this was some help to you.

Good Luck

Hi to a fellow Cajun! LeDoux, I'm wondering... did you plant a Louisiana iris or a TB (tall bearded)? They are not the same. I've got many Louisiana iris in my gardens and yes, they are doing wonderfully. Maybe because I'm in Louisiana, eh?! LOL! The culture for TB's and Louisiana iris is basically opposite. I'm thinking perhaps you have the yellow flag iris... very prolific growers and bloomers. Do you know for sure? Thanks for any info!

Down below me there is an abandoned 1850s house that has an old stream bed meandering across the back yard full of those yellow flag iris. The steambed rarely has any water in it.

I'd love to see pictures of that Gloria!

The house was burned when occupied by the last owners. It was originally built and owned by a civil war general.

Nina Morgan @ Daylily Haven Iris Gardens grows irises in Aberdeen, MS. Hope this helps.

I'm certainly no iris expert but do grow a few in NW Florida. I'll try to send you to a thread about in in the Florida forum with pictures. I don't do anything special except make sure they aren't planted too deep.



http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/582017/


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4762253

Thanks, Pestee. It looks like the first replies to that Florida post were the same as what everyone around here has told me. I am planting 220 different varieties in October to see which, if any, will make it here in Louisiana. I've got them potted and acclimating at the moment, in partial sun but exposed to the heat index and humidity. In October, they'll move to the garden and we'll see how it goes from there. I finally decided I would see for myself as there are so many new cultivars with unique characteristics. I chose almost all rebloomers that can tolerate more moisture than the once-bloomers, and I looked for a lot of cultivars by Moores and Miller... both of them are Southern (Mr. Moores is in Mississippi and Ms. Miller was in Alabama). I'm hoping "born in the South" cultivars might be more willing to bloom for me here.

Do you know what cultivars you have that are blooming? I'd love to add them to my garden! Again, thanks for the reply! Ev :)

Just realized... LYNN... I didn't say thank you for your post. It was very encouraging! Thanks!!! Ev :)

BlissfulGarden,
I was born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana. I still have a farm in Lumberton, Mississippi, about 20 miles south of Hattiesburg. I live in New Mexico and grow a great many iris here, but I just planted my first ones in Mississippi. I planted Louiana -- Ann Chowning, as I recall and 3 tall beardeds that I bought, potted at the local grocery store. They were Rock Star, Summer Olympics and Immortality. Unfortunately that was this spring and I won't be back until October. I will let you know then how they are doing. I know people in the area who grow both tall bearded and Louisiana. I grew Louisiana, myself, years ago. Unfortunately, I don't know much about what works there. You probably know a whole lot more than I do.
We have often had a poster on this board from Ocean Springs, Miss, right on the Gulf, but unfortunately, I have forgotten her name. She grows lots of tall bearded. I will see if I can figure out who she is. You and she could share a lot and then perhaps I could learn from the two of you.

I think she is froggies_girl. Not completely convinced, but you could send her a Dmail and find out. I think she grows a lot of iris. Maybe you all could start posting on iris in the deep, wet, South. I would definitely be interested in what you all have to say and could report on my new ventures.

This message was edited Aug 24, 2008 1:33 AM

Pajaritomt, Thank you! That's very encouraging. =)
You will love Ann Chowning; she's a very tough beauty. I've grown her for a few years and I love the color of the bloom. With the bearded cultivars I purchased, I have two of the three you are growing. I have Summer Olympics and Immortality. I believe Immortality will definitely make it. I frequently read how adaptive it is. I also have Innocent Star, which is an offspring of Rock Star. I will definitely shoot a note to froggies_girl and hope that she is the right person... and I'll keep you posted.

No problem, you are more than welcome. I do hope it all works well for you.
Lynn

Blissfulgarden, I don't know what cultivars I have. I ordered them when we bought our house about nine years ago and don't even remember where I ordered them from. I'm not much help am I. Sounds like you are on the right track though by getting some bred in the south.

I am sure you can get some from whoever sells Walter Moores's stuff now though. He will tell you who that is.

Pajaritomt, I actually was able to track down quite a few. Mr. Moores and I have been corresponding for a while, and he gave me two growers who sell a few of his cultivars. I sent him a list of who I found selling them after I was done ordering, and he was surprised to see that some of the cultivars were still available! I guess with so many growers, it's hard to keep up with who is still growing what, especially with the older cultivars. Unfortunately, everybody was sold out of Calico Ruffles... and I wasn't able to find some of the cultivars anywhere at all. I'm going to look again next year so that I can try at least one rhizome of each of his cultivars.

I was able to find and purchase 48 of his cultivars, but there are 27 that I'm still looking for. Here's a list of what I'm missing (all hybridized by Mr. Moores):

Calico Ruffles
Cloud Illusion
Confederate Muster
Drifting Confetti
Face Powder
Fleshtones
French Provencal
Grandville
Haunting Music
Lemonade Springs
Light on Snow
Matrix of Art
Monterrey Jack
Pinch of Spice
Pink Sachet
Ranchipur
Rudi
Scorpio Snow
Scrimshaw
Silent Screen
Soft Halo
Style Conscious
Summer Surf
Top Stitch
Touched by Grace
Tulip Light
Valentine Romance

If anybody has these, I'd be happy to purchase!!!! Ev :)


This message was edited Aug 24, 2008 7:42 PM

I am not sure if this is far enough South for you, but there is an iris farm at Louisville, MS. They sell Iris, daylilies etc and I believe they grow them yourselves. Check out:

http://www.eandbfarm.com/irises.html They are just north east of Jackson. I bet they would have a lot to say that would be of use to you. Are you aware of them?

I would have to say that the fact that LeDoux is able to grow them in Sulfur, Louisiana is probably a good sign that bearded iris can be grown anywhere in the deep south as long as one provides proper drainage. Sulphur is very close to Lake Charles which is very close to the Gulf. And even here in the semi-arid part of New Mexico, we have to be sure we provide proper drainage or we get rot.

I would suggest planting your iris on top of a very low mound -- 1/2 inch or whatever it takes to keep the iris above the water. You could mix some fine gravel in with your soil if it is heavy clay. The most important thing is drainage and leaving a little bit of the rhizome exposed to the sunshine. Somehow, they need that to bloom, even here.
Irises bred in one climate don't necessarily grow in another and hot and wet is the toughest on iris -- that I know of. They can take heat and they can take water, but not both at the same time. But on your little mounds, the water will drain away from them.
I attended the American Iris Society Convention in Austin this spring and was amazed at how many iris planted for the convention had died. But one breeder stood out in resistance to the heat and wet of Austin -- it was Tom Burseen. He grows iris that really grow even in hot, wet climates.
An internet search might provide his address. Anyhow, it is my understanding that he has a catalog. I know Superstition Gardens carries some of his iris, too. He won the highest award of the convention in Austin. I think he is in Oklahoma our Missouri, but his iris have hilarious names like Ididit and Nucleur Nancy. I think the iris ordering season is close to over, but I suggest the winter searching for his address..

Thanks for the link! I had not heard of E&B farm before. Most of the growers I consulted were recommendations from iris-lovers... except Daylily Haven, who I found through a search for Mr. Moores' cultivars. I'll shoot an email to E& B to see if they have any tips. And thanks for the name of Tom Burseen. I didn't realize he was known for hot-weather cultivars. I'll have to search the AIS checklist for his cultivars. Ahhh, a-hunting-I-will-go (in best Elmer Fudd voice)! Ev =)

I am not sure how much Burseen was known for his iris that tolerated hot and wet before the 2008 convention, but it certainly obvious at the convention display gardens his iris held up better than those of most other hybridizers in that climate. That is the good thing about iris conventions. You learn what works where and what doesn't. Most things grew in Oklahoma. But Austin was a different story.