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Marsh iris (Iris pseudacorus) can be found in the natural environment. This is an amazing plant that adorns ponds. It perfectly takes root in private gardens, park areas near ponds.
Yellow buds with bright “tongues” on long green stems – a great option for landscape designers
Description of marsh iris
Marsh iris, according to the description and photo, is a herbaceous perennial growing in fresh water. A strong rhizome develops well in such an environment, it accumulates nutrients.
Growth points are located in the lateral part of the marsh iris root, which makes it possible for the shoots to bend horizontally in different directions. Thanks to this, voluminous bushes are obtained.
Sword-shaped wide plates are light green or variegated. With proper care and the creation of appropriate conditions, they grow in length up to 2 m.
The swamp iris has up to 15 powerful branched peduncles. Each bud has three petals in the outer and the same number in the inner circle. The color may vary depending on the variety and classification of marsh iris. The palette of buds happens:
- yellow (with an orange core);
- blue;
- purple;
- white.
Varietal plants have an external resemblance to wild-growing iris, so it has other names – calamus (iris).
Plants bloom in June, and by mid-July, a box with seeds is formed near the swamp iris
In nature, the fruit cracks, black grains spill into the water, where they then germinate. They do not sink for a long time, they float on the surface. This is because they have an air cavity.
Iris iris is not only a beautiful plant that landscape designers have long paid attention to. The flower belongs to medicinal species. The rhizomes of marsh iris are used for coughs, migraines, sore throats, gastritis. Iris leaves are rich in vitamin C, amino acids.
Why false iris is listed in the Red Book
False air iris grows up to 1,5 m. It is distinguished by flat long leaves of green or gray color.
The upper petals of yellow buds are slightly underdeveloped, they are shorter than the outer ones. Among the calamus irises there are representatives with white flowers.
The rhizome is powerful, dissected, which ensures the successful growth of iris. Unfortunately, due to drought or forced drainage of swampy areas, the number of plants is reduced. All yellow marsh irises, regardless of variety and description, are listed in the Red Book.
Growing in summer cottages, in parks, near artificial reservoirs helps to protect the culture from extinction
Varieties of marsh iris
Among marsh irises, there are varieties with different color palettes. It is possible to choose plants with blue, yellow, purple, white and cream petals for the site.
Popular varieties:
- Iris marsh Variegata (Variegata). It is famous for its soft blue flowers. He also has decorative leaves: they are bright green in color with yellow stripes. The culture is especially beautiful in spring.
By the fall, there is no trace of the decorativeness of the Variegata, so it is recommended to cut the shoots
- Flora Plena (Flore Plena). This variety of swamp iris has double petals of a bright yellow color. In the middle of the bud there are stripes of a dark yellow and brownish tint. The leaves are dark green. The decorativeness of the plant is fully revealed when certain conditions are created.
Variety Flora Pleno will need a lot of moisture and sun
- Iris golden-painted Black Fom (Iris chrysographes Black Form). This is an unpretentious variety with dark purple, almost black petals. On the bottom there are small golden touches. Hence the name. Irises are high – up to half a meter. Flowering begins in June-July. Excess moisture adversely affects the decorativeness of the plant.
For planting Black Fom, it is better to choose places that are not too damp, in the sun or in an openwork shade.
- English White. Delicate buds with white petals bloom on powerful stems up to 1 m high. On each “tongue” longitudinal streaks of a cream shade are clearly visible. Closer to the middle of the flower on the petals is a dark cherry stripe.
On one arrow, English White blooms about nine buds
- Creme de la Creme. This is an unpretentious marsh iris; for its planting, you can choose wet, and even flooded places, shallow water. It looks good in partial shade, but it is in the sun that it reveals all its charm. The height of the bushes is 70-90 cm. The flowers are light cream with burgundy-purple veins at the base. The buds are large – about 10 cm in diameter.
Variety Creme de la Creme is winter-hardy, so you can grow a crop everywhere
- Bastardi (Bastardii). The height of this plant is about 120 cm. It is also found in nature, only in varietal iris the flowers are lemon yellow, as in the photo, with a clearly visible orange-red core. In the wild variety, the color of the petals is uniform, uniform.
In diameter, Bastard flowers reach 12-14 cm
Swamp iris in landscape design
Iris marsh with yellow and blue petals has long been especially popular with landscape designers. This is no coincidence. The plant is unpretentious in care, grows quickly. Thanks to him, you can create various flower arrangements.
Application options:
- yellow marsh iris looks great in areas near trees and shrubs;
In diameter, Bastard flowers reach 12-14 cm
- next to other perennials;
- as solitary groups on lawns;
- single landings;
Dense bushes with long peduncles can decorate any area
- flower beds with colorful marsh irises look great;
- on ponds, small lakes or wet beds, varieties of yellow marsh iris are placed in rows or curtains.
Near the marsh iris, you can plant various water plants
Features of reproduction
Like other plants, marsh iris reproduces in many ways. Each of them is good in its own way:
- The division of the rhizome. To do this, you need to dig a bush of marsh iris with a good lump of soil and clean the root. Using a sharp knife, cut into slices. Each of them should have 2-3 lateral buds and one central shoot. Sprinkle cuts with charcoal or ash to prevent diseases. Trim leaves before planting. For rooting, delenki should first be planted in containers, and then in a permanent place.
- Seed reproduction. The material has a dense skin, so it needs stratification for germination. Swamp iris seeds are sown late in autumn in the ground, a film is thrown on top. Seated in the spring.
Planting marsh iris
Swamp iris should be planted in a permanent place in August-September. The site must be protected from drafts. Planted delenki will bloom next summer.
When choosing marsh iris seedlings, you should pay attention to their appearance. Roots and stems should be free from damage, signs of rot, traces of diseases and pests.
Irises are planted in a damp place or shallow water, in areas open to the sun. The acidity of the soil should be 7 pH, fertile, with a high content of clay.
Landing steps:
- To control the growth of seedlings, the seed is placed in large containers with fertile soil.
- The earth is well moistened until it becomes mushy.
- Iris rhizomes are cut off by 1/3, leaf blades are also shortened.
After preparing for planting, plants will spend energy on rooting.
- The seedling is placed at a depth of 10 cm. In this case, the root is not placed in the center of the container, but closer to the walls.
- The thickening on which the growth points are located is left above the ground.
- Then containers with seedlings of marsh iris are placed in a permanent place in the reservoir, immersed by 20-40 cm.
You can plant a crop directly in open ground
Features of care
Growers do not have any particular difficulties in growing plants. Iris marsh is unpretentious. It is only necessary to fulfill certain conditions at the time of landing:
- Lighting. The leaves and flowers of the culture are not afraid of the open sun. Moreover, plants should be lit all day.
- Watering. If irises are planted in reservoirs or on a swamp bed, then additional irrigation is not required. In other cases, the soil is constantly kept moist, preventing the top layer from drying out. In heat and drought, you will have to water twice a day.
- Top dressing. Plants that are planted in water bodies do not need fertilizer. In other cases, you can make a complex composition after flowering, for example, “Kemira”.
Do they prune swamp iris for the winter
When growing marsh iris, flower growers do not experience any particular difficulties. The only thing to pay attention to is the trimming of the ground part. This procedure is mandatory, it is performed several times during the growing season.
In what cases is pruning carried out:
- If spots appear on the leaf plates or they have lost their decorative effect due to pests.
- After the end of flowering, so that nutrients can accumulate in the rhizomes.
- At the end of autumn before frosts.
- In accordance with the rules of agricultural technology of individual varieties.
During pruning, a third of the height of the leaf blades of marsh iris is left
Pests and diseases
Despite the fact that plants are unpretentious, unfortunately, it is not always possible to maintain their health. From time to time, the culture is sick and affected by pests.
What can marsh irises suffer from:
- Alternariosis. Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure plants, you only need to destroy, disinfect the soil.
- Ascochitosis leads to drying of the leaves. For treatment, preparations containing copper are used.
- The reason for the appearance of heterosporiosis can be prolonged rains and warm summers. The disease damages the flowers. There are no medicines, you need to cut off the affected petals in a timely manner.
- For the treatment of rot on marsh irises, solutions containing sulfur are used.
If we talk about pests, then irises can suffer from:
- khrushka;
- wireworm;
- onion fly;
- gladiolus thrips;
- nematodes
It is useful to treat plantings with special solutions. The preparations are diluted in accordance with the recommendations in the instructions.
Conclusion
Marsh iris is a beautiful plant that is gaining popularity. Due to the fact that there are many varieties with different petals, you can create unique flower arrangements on the site.
