Yellow water flag iris ( iris pseudacorus L. )
These grow in water, along the edges of ponds, in bogs, I have them in my swale garden.
They can be invasive use appropriate cautions. Do not plant them unless you are sure you want them. They are extremely difficult to remove once established.
They are used in sewage treatment to remove metals from waste waters.
They grow in full sun and part shade with no trouble here. If it is wet, they will grow.
They bloom early-mid March and are just now winding down the middle of April.
Yellow flag iris can be found wild in bogs from Scandinavia to Siberia and as far south as North Africa. Clovis I, King of the Franks made it his family flower. On a campaign from Germany they found their way through the swamp by following the flag irises. Since they will not grow in deep water, he knew the swamps would be shallow enough to march his army through where ever they found this flower.
6 Responses to 'Yellow water flag iris ( iris pseudacorus L. )'
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Anonymous said…
Yes – they DO love to spread….but HELP — they’ve taken over my entire pond 2 years in a row! When I moved in this rental house, the pond was sad and they were too…after fixing it up and adding fish, the 2 plants — iris and water lilies — thrive. However, the iris was never in pots. It is an island of explosion! I want to take out most of them and put them in a few pots, but each time I try to do one for ‘practice,’ the result is a very bleak looking transplant. Any ideas would REALLY be appreciated!
September 1, 2007 12:58 PM
admin
1 Sep 07 at 2:30 pm
I had to re-post your comment. You posted it on the blogger account the same day I moved the blog and I didn’t want to lose it.
I haven’t tried transplanting any of these irises yet. When I transplanted other pond plants it wasn’t easy. Not only do you have to get them in a pot of dirt but you have to convince the dirt to stay in the pot.
I used clay pots, filled them halfway with dirt, put the bulb in and filled the rest with gravel. I also then cut the leaves back to below the water level and just above the gravel.
All transplants look sad for a while. This way you don’t have to see them till they get happy and start growing again. They go dormant when it gets chilly which is the best time to take them out and pot them.
admin
1 Sep 07 at 2:35 pm
I am surprised at this plants reaction to the cold. Most of the leaves are brown on the 1/3 closest to the end.
I’m sure it’ll be fine since it has wintered over here before.
This one is probably worth covering we have a frost warning.
admin
7 Jan 08 at 3:07 pm
This plant is fine now. It bloomed prolifically in the spring. The rest of the year it’s just leaves.
It is slowly creeping out from the center. I dug up a few to pass on late spring.
ljmacphee
25 Aug 08 at 11:48 am
This plant rapidly spreads in wet areas. Be prepared to dig some up and give them away each spring. The roots are shallow, it’s much like digging up hostas.
It’s blooming now and has been for several weeks.
ljmacphee
25 Mar 09 at 9:08 pm
The three day freeze of 2010 browned about a quarter of the leaves on this plant, but otherwise it looks unscathed.
timestocome
21 Jan 10 at 11:08 am