Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Louisiana irises have been the subject of major breeding efforts – some natural occurring and others the results of human crosses between several native America iris species. Sadly, their natural habitat – the bogs of Louisiana – has been dramatically reduced in size. The good news is you can help ensure their survival by adding them to your garden. Although they’ll grow happily in a foot of water they’ll do fine alongside other flowering perennials growing in irrigated garden beds rich in organic matter The color spectrum is amazing – purples, blues, coppers, the unusually-named Black Gamecock cultivars, but also softer pinks, roses, and yellows. As for size, the largest are really giants – up to six feet tall, but for smaller spaces or to grow in pots you can find them from several feet in height to as small as four inches.
Louisiana Irises
