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Publication #FPS-286

 

Iris Fulva 'Louisiana Hybrids' Louisiana Iris1

Edward F. Gilman, Carol Lord2

Introduction

Louisiana iris hybrids (also Iris breuicaulis, Iris giganticaerulea) have dark green, sword-like leaves and rhizomatous roots (Fig. 1). They grow 2 to 4 feet tall and bear 3- to 4-inch-long flowers of white, cream, yellow, bronze, pink, red, blue, purple, or near black. These spring flowers are often cut for flower arrangements. Louisiana iris hybrids are clumping, spreading or upright perennials that can be used as background or specimen plants. They are also useful in a mass planting.

General Information

Scientific name: Iris fulva Louisiana hybrids
Pronunciation: EYE-riss FULL-vuh
Common name(s): Louisiana iris
Figure 1. 

Louisiana iris


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Family: Iridaceae
Plant type: herbaceous; ground cover
USDA hardiness zones: 6 through 10 (Fig. 2)
Figure 2. 

Shaded area represents potential planting range.


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Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10: year round
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: border; mass planting; ground cover; edging
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: moderate
Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: most emerge from the soil, usually without a stem
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: linear
Leaf venation: parallel
Leaf type and persistence: semi-evergreen; evergreen
Leaf blade length: 12 to 18 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: white; red; yellow; pink; purple; cream; bronze; blue; near black
Flower characteristic: spring flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: unknown
Fruit cover: unknown
Fruit color: unknown
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; sand; loam; clay
Drought tolerance: high
Soil salt tolerances: unknown
Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

Figure 3. 

Flower of Louisiana iris


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Louisiana iris hybrids grow best in a full sun to partially shaded location in the landscape. They require an acid soil in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 and prefer moist soils with high organic matter content. They will grow in a sandy soil that receives some irrigation in prolonged dry spells. These hybrids are tolerant to drought but will also endure wet soils. These plants are frozen to the ground in freezing temperatures but will regenerate from the roots with the onset of warm weather.

Propagate these hybrids by division or from seed.

Pests and Diseases

Louisiana iris hybrids are pest tolerant.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FPS-286, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 1999. Revised May 2007. Reviewed June 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Carol Lord, master gardener, Escambia County, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.