El and Dennis,
I. Cristata grew at my old place for quite a few
years with little attention. It received morning
sun, but heavy shade from mid-day on. The soil
was mostly clay with some gravel, and some
natural humus, like woodland soil. The iris
received a mulch of leaves which fell from
nearby poplar and basswood trees every fall,
which I left in place. It increased slowly and
produced only a few flowers each year. Fans died
back each fall.
Immortality still survives at my old place, but
in ground with more sandy gravel at the surface,
and in full sun, compost a year before it was
planted. It was slow to moderate increasing, but
always bloomed twice each summer when I was
there to keep weeds down. I moved some of it
here last year to see how it does in heavy clay
with lots of peat type soil.
Dan Mason zone 3, NW ON, Canada
-----------------------------------------
El Hutchison wrote:
> I know what you mean, Dennis. About 15 miles
> or so from here, a couple of my garden
> friends have Immortality rebloom regularly in
> their gardens, whereas I can barely keep
> mine alive long enough to bloom once.
>
> I've got 2 little pieces of I cristata trying
> to grow here for the last 2 yrs. Just when
> I think they're dead, little shoots appear. I
> might try moving them to an even sunnier spot
> surrounded by pea gravel. Maybe I tried to
> protect them too much.
