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A water Iris from the southern states of the USA. I have struggled to grow it, only the tenacious tolerance of its rhizomes has sustained it.
It seems to need good light, good food and high summer termperatuires to prosper. The copper flowers are astonishing. The Plantsmans Preference say: "Stunning terracotta flowers on this American Louisiana iris. Best in a warm site with good rich soil. Not the easiest to flower well in the UK but well worth trying! 60cm. As with many of the Louisiana Iris, Iris fulva isn't the hardiest species for the UK climate but will grow well in more sheltered sites. A good candidate for the edge of a natural pon dor stream as it will appreciate plenty of moisture early in the year but will tolerate drying out a bit in the summer. From the Mississippi valley from Louisiana north to Missouri and Illinois where it grows on the edges of floodplains and swamps etc." Missouri Botanical Garden say: "Iris fulva, commonly called copper iris, is a beardless, crestless iris (Louisiana Iris group) that is native to swamps and wetlands of the deep South and of the lower Mississippi Valley from Louisiana north to southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois. In Missouri, it is primarily found in bald cypress swamps, sloughs, ponds, ditches and swampy woodland areas in the southeastern corner of the State (Steyermark). It is often found growing and blooming in standing water in spring-flooded areas that typically dry up as the summer progresses. Loose fans of sword-shaped, linear, bright green foliage emerge from thickened, well-branched, 1" diameter rhizomes. Individual leaves will reach 2-3.25' tall and 0.5-1" wide. Coppery brown to various shades of orange-red colored irises appear in late spring atop flower scapes typically growing 2-3’ tall. Flowers are reportedly pollinated by hummingbirds. The fruiting capsules are green and hold rows of irregularly shaped seeds with a corky outer texture." |
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| 12th June 2015 | ||