Re: Irises in New Orleans.
- To: i*@onelist.com
- Subject: Re: Irises in New Orleans.
- From: <R*@aol.com>
- Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 12:05:10 EDT
From: <RMTURLEY@aol.com>
In a message dated 7/25/1998 7:04:41 AM Central Daylight Time,
swamp@ix.netcom.com writes:
Mark & Patrick,
<< I have not had any problem growing TBs in South Louisiana, but they would
not bloom for me. Occassionally, one will see beautiful TBs in bloom
around Baton Rouge or New Orleans, but they are never mine. In fact, I
gave up the effort years ago. >>
I grow TB in Lake Charles, Louisiana, actually south of town, about 30 miles
north of the Gulf as the crow flies. I just finished my last TB bloom the
first of July.
<< I have been told that in raised beds with excellent internal drainage, they
will bloom, but I just grew mine in a normal bed. >>
There is no question about it, drainage is a must. I grow mine on rows and
raised beds.
<< It may be that certain varieties will bloom in this climate and others will
not. I had heard that the lack of sufficient cold weather was a factor, but I
am inclined to think it may be more a matter of how beds are prepared and
other cultural conditions. >>
There is certainly a difference among varieties. Those irises that are
developed in the mild winter areas and are winter growers, like the Louisiana
iris, will do fine here. Many of the irises developed in the cold northern
areas do less well, to not at all here. If we have a good frosty winter these
will respond better. But the winter growing TB are the best. The TBs with
reblooming tendency are a better choice than strait spring bloomers. They
will respond to culture rather than just weather conditions.
<< Pseudacorus is a weed here and I have seen Japanese in bloom. >>
Pseudacorus is a old homestead iris found in old plantings. Many people in
Louisiana think it is a native iris because it is so common.
I have grown Japanese in Central Louisiana but have not in south Louisiana.
<< Some public landscape plantings use a blue Siberian but I lost every one I
tried. >>
This is CEASAR'S BROTHER. Most adaptable to climate of any Siberian. If you
grow this one it will fool you into thinking you can grow Siberians. CB will
take our heat and drought in the summer, while the newer and prettier
varieties will not make it.
<< Virginicas, of course, are native here, so no problem with those.>>
I have just started growing these, but they are not southern selections, so
will have wait and see.
<>
There you are!
Robert Turley
Lake Charles, LA
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