Iris

bouicca21

How can I tell what sort I've got?

I rescued some that were being choked by weeds. One lot were potted up and placed in a position that gets sun half the day. By then I'd run out of pots so the second lot were put in a black sack. They have since lived in a position that is permanently shady. Both have grown well - now about a metre high, the shady set even has a flower bud.

I want to plant them back into the flower bed - but I'm puzzled about how and where to plant them. Do I assume they are flag irises? Would the colour of the flower provide a clue about how wet or dry, sunny/shady the growing conditions have to be?

REEN

Monty had some flag irises on the last episode of Gardeners' World. Could you have a look on catchup tv?
I have two types that prefer moist conditions. Sibirica which grows in grassy-looking clumps and the yellow native one, pseudacorus which has broader leaves that have a little kink in the end. Both are about 1m tall. Sibirica can have blue, white or yellow flowers, but usually blue.
Hope this helps.

bouicca21

A well meaning but clumsy visitor knocked off a flower bud, so I now know it was going to be yellow. When I first dug it up I thought it was foetidissima (which I also have) but it must have been very sickly because now it has taken off the leaves are quite different, broad and tall. So I am thinking it must be pseudacorus. I will hearten to Monty Don's advice!