{Disarmed} RE: Re: Flight of Butterflies, also culture

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Thanks,

Shawna Coronado

Zone 5, Chicagoland

So perhaps, Claire, it is your location and soil prep – a rock garden might not have the fertility needed.

It is, I think, generally thought that Sibs grow best in acid soils and with plenty of moisture.  Also they are much less susceptible to disease in my garden. I know the disease question always brings up opposition but here in my garden it is true. We do have acid soils.  So much so that lowbush bluberries grow in the lawns.  The rock garden is the one on the edge.  We have a rock garden because we have a large outcropping of rock in front of our house.  But it is true Shawna, for others, that a rock garden usually wants lean soil and hosts more plants with some lime.

We also boost fertiity with manure as there are horse farms around us.  I would agree that very fertile soils grow better Siberians.  Originally, I remarked on this year's crop of flowers.  This endless rain has made quite a difference.

The main complaint about growing Siberians around here, that is from nurseries, is that they do not produce many flowers and last less than a week.  Now that is true for many other perennials but it is repeated over and over re: Siberian irises.  I favor those that bloom heavily and find they bloom along with several other perennials, nepetas and lupines in particular, in my garden so the color combination at this time is a good one.

A combo of Orville Fay blooming through a haze of nepeta with white Lupines nearby was wonderful. I did not plan this though I will remember to use more nepeta around the Siberians.

I would add that once sited, they do not need moving or dividing for a long time.  They do in colder climates need three or more years to reach best blooming.  If a Siberian has a smashing flower but produces only four or five each season, I am inclined to skip it.

Claire Peplowski

zone 4 NYS mountains