GardenDC Podcast Episode 290: Louisiana Iris

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with plantsman Rich Crider of Three Shovels Farm all about Louisiana Iris. The plant profile is on Japanese Painted Fern and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Plant in June" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

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SHOW NOTES:

01:16 Welcome Rich Crider, owner of Three Shovels Farm in SC

01:33 How Rich got into gardening, drawn to unusual plants

03:51 Rich's connection to MD

04:21 Soil in SC

05:46 Rich and Kathy's connection through the American Daylily Society

06:31 Why grow Louisiana Iris?

08:46 To where is Louisiana Iris native?

09:50 More about locations and conditions for Louisiana Iris

10:50 The five native Louisiana Iris species

11:55 Louisiana Iris cultivars

13:15 Are breeders developing reblooming Louisiana Iris cultivars?

13:35 How to plant Louisiana Iris: rhizomes and potted plants, process, conditions

17:44 Sunlight for Louisiana Iris

19:10 Pollinators of Louisiana Iris

19:33 Fertilizer for Louisiana Iris

20:32 Mulching for Louisiana Iris

21:45 Do potted Louisiana Irises need extra care?

23:09 How to divide Louisiana Irises

25:37 Growth cycle and timing of dividing Louisiana Irises

26:55 Book “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz

28:53 How to divide Louisiana Irises, continued

31:40 Pests to look out for with Louisiana Iris

34:05 Rich's favorite Louisiana Iris varieties

36:29 Iris fragrance

36:54 What plants are good companion plants for Louisiana Iris?

38:38 What are breeders looking for in Louisiana Iris?

40:35 Old-Fashioned favorite varieties of Louisiana Iris

42:21 Public garden displays containing Louisiana Iris

44:17 Contact Rich and learn more at website threeshovelsfarm.com and on social media

44:47 Rich's Louisiana Iris variety recommendations for beginning gardeners

46:31 Society for Louisiana Iris, website louisianas.org

47:27 Book “The Urban Garden” by Kathy Jentz and Teri Speight

48:51 Plant Profile: Japanese painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum)

50:46 What’s new in the garden this week? Blooms, Okra, Squash

51:04 Garden tips: Plant combinations

51:24 Local gardening events

51:26 "Growing Roses at Home" on June 28 at Merrifield Garden Center in Fair Oaks, VA

51:46 Learn more about classes and events at merrifieldgardencenter.com

52:13 Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens summer hours June 3 through Sept 6

52:33 Lotus and Water Lily Festival on July 18 and 19 at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

52:42 Learn more at nps.org

52:48 "Backyard Composting" on Aug 1 at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA

53:05 Register at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

53:38 Christy Page reads "10 Fruits and Vegetables to Plant in June" by Amanda MacArthuri

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 64: Daylilies - The Perfect Perennial?

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/06/gardendc-podcast-episode-64-daylilies.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 53: Superior Perennials

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-53-superior.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 150: Sourcing Native Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/05/gardendc-podcast-episode-150-sourcing.html

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/20zfRrjCpA0UIHJEN2vRu7?si=h6IW9Y5TTySPUgcM9qFtkQ

 

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Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Show Notes: Maya Hand

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Louisiana Iris at Three Shovels Farm.

Bearded Iris Plant Profile

Bearded Iris Plant Profile

Bearded Iris (Iris × germanica) is a group of European hybrid iris also known as the German Bearded Irises. They are considered to be a natural hybrid between Iris pallida and Iris variegata. There are thousands of Bearded Iris cultivars available.

The cultivars come in every color and combination from pure whites to pinks, browns, yellows, and almost jet black -- though the classic Bearded Iris is a deep purple.

They are perennial plants that typically bloom in mid- to late-spring.  Note that some cultivars can re-bloom in the fall.

Bearded Irises are hardy to USDA zones 3 to 9. They are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

They prefer to grow in full sun with well-draining soils. If they do not get enough sunlight, the flower stalks will stretch and flop over. If they are in too much moisture, the roots will rot.

Do not apply a high nitrogen fertilizer as this encourages leaf growth and can make the plant susceptible to bacterial rot.

They can be propagated by seed or by division. You will need to divide them every 3-5 years, so they don’t become too crowded. The best time to divide the plants is during the late summer or early fall. When you plant the new divisions, be sure the soil level is just to the top of the rhizomes and not burying them.

The foliage stays evergreen most of the year. In the fall, you can trim back any brown or floppy leaves or fans. Clearing out this dead foliage can prevent the dreaded iris borer from wintering over in the plants.

In addition to the typical tall varieties of Bearded Iris, there are also miniature and dwarf versions. The smaller kinds typically bloom earlier in the season then the larger ones.

Bearded Iris: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Video and editing by Jessica Harden

Audio and text by Kathy Jentz

 

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Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) Plant Profile

Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) Plant Profile

The Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) is a small iris that is native to the eastern United States. This dwarf iris is beardless and it faces right up at you, unlike so many other woodland and native flowers that require you to peer at them from a snail's vantage point.

It grows just a few inches tall and is best suited for the borders of woodland paths and fronts of part-shade flower beds. When not in flower, the narrow foliage is like that of bearded iris, but as it is much smaller, it is hardly noticeable.

The bloom time is late April to early May. It blooms on the previous year's growth, so it will take a year to establish and flower.

It spreads slowly by underground rhizomes. It is easy to divide and share or put in different spots around your own garden. If you want to propagate it by seed allow the seedpods to dry on the plant then break them open over an envelope to collect the seeds.

They are drought-tolerant, trouble-free, and require no care once established. It does well in rock gardens and on slopes as well.

Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata): You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Hojung Ryu

 

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Bloom Day Fleur de Lys

It is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day again! On the 15th of each month, we gardeners with blogs share a few bloom photos from our gardens. 

Here in the Mid-Atlantic USA (USDA zone 7) on the DC-MD border, we had a soggy and cool spring, so my garden is happy--though I've had little chance to get out there and maintain or enjoy it!

In my garden, I have a multitude of blooms, but I thought I'd focus on just the Irises this time. Most are bearded types. None have names as they were all pass-along plants that I got from other gardeners -- either at plant swaps or in direct trades. Likewise, the one patch of Siberian Iris I have is from a garden club friend.

One Iris that I forgot to take a photo of was the Yellow Flag Iris in my pond, also a pass-along plant. It is considered invasive, but on my urban corner location it isn't going anywhere (plus I snip the seedheads off before they can ripen).

So what is blooming today in YOUR garden?