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Irises For The Waterside |
Very often,
it will be found that the best way to plant the irises, when the
roots are to be planted actually under the water, is to place
them with sufficient soil mixture into an open hessian bag or
tie a piece of the material around the roots. It may be neces-
sary to place a heavyish stone in the bag to keep it down until
the roots take hold. Very often, too, water irises need sup-
porting with a small stake to keep them upright until they
have established themselves in the water. This, of course, is
not necessary when planting is done in just moist, or even
boggy ground.
Although it would seem that, as with the tall bearded irises,
the best time for planting and dividing is after the flowering
period has passed, I have found that the moisture-loving sorts
may be transplanted quite successfully, at almost any time in
the year. For preference, however, it is best not to move them
when they are actually in bloom.
Although almost all so-called waterside irises will grow quite
well in the border, which does not dry out during the summer,
there is one species which absolutely must have water, this is
/. laevigata from Eastern Asia. This is a very lovely thing,
which is very happy when growing in water anything from
three to six inches deep. It is perfectly hardy and should be
given a position which is in full sun. The flower stems may
grow more than two and. a half feet high, but arc usually
around two feet. They are crowned during June with the
most delightful of blue flowers, while there are also white and
pink forms.
This is a species which will need sinking into the pond or
pool in a basket or hessian bag, so that the roots are kept in
close contact with the' soil of the pond and become established
quickly. Iris laevigata is a gross feeder and it will be a great
help if the compost used, when planting is done, is enriched
with bone meal and manure.
Our native yellow flag iris is I. pseudacorus, which is most
accommodating, in that it will grow well right in the water and
on the banks and sides of pools and streams. Although some-
times said to be 'common', it is well worth growing, and there
is no doubt that it has a very ancient history. There are
several forms having flowers of pale yellow and white, and
also one I. pseudacorus joilis variegatus with leaves margined
creamy-yellow.
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