Water Iris Question

[sparroweye]

I have had this one water iris for at least six years. I have moved it from one pond to the other. It has grown bigger and bigger but never bloomed. Last
year I bought this small potted water iris. Finally this week a bloom opened up
on the one year old iris. And now looking closely I see numerous buds sprouting
out from the base of this huge water iris. Do water iris's normally take six
years to bloom? I am confused. Also the buds on the huge iris are coming out
sideways on long stalks looking very like gladiola buds. I have no idea of the variety of either of these. The newer one I got at a plant swap and the older
one I can no longer remember it's name. But it cost me a lot of money.

[steve_nova]

If it cost you a lot of money, chances are that it is not Iris versicolor (American Water Iris) but the so-called Louisiana Water Iris which is in fact a complex multi hybrid consisting of five species, Iris fulva, Iris giganticaerulea, Iris nelsonii, Iris brevicaulis and Iris hexagona. Some of these hybrids are quite spectacular in their flower colours. If you google search Louisiana Iris, you should find a specialist site dealing with their cultivation needs. I think they are very greedy feeders if memory serves me well!

[sparroweye]

Thanks Steve. That name does ring a bell. After all it has been six
years since I planted it and I did not write the name down. When I moved
it from the front to the back, I gave it lots of fertilizer and left it out for a few
days until it had all been obsorbed or washed out. And before I had it in the
dirt off to the side of the pond. This time I decided to put it in a basket made
for the pond and place it along the edge, in the water. It has expanded and
tripled in size. And it has at least six buds coming out. The other blooming
water iris has a small flower and there was no large bud presenting, it
just seemed to emerge from the leaf. I cannot wait to see the first flower.
I will compare it to ones on the internet and see if I can match it to something.

[steve_nova]

Should be interesting to see especially if it is one of the newer multi coloured types.

[sparroweye]

Should be interesting to see especially if it is one of the newer multi coloured types.


The unknown water iris now has multiple buds on each stalk. They should
open by this weekend. The small water iris which I had bought last year
just has oridinary purple flowers. I will be sure and post a photo when I
have something to show.

[sparroweye]

Should be interesting to see especially if it is one of the newer multi coloured types.

Well, it has bloomed. I am not sure what it is Steve. But it is very pretty and
has multiple blooms on each stalk. These are twice the size of my smaller iris.
Thanks for your input.