Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - April 22, 2007
From: Lago Vista, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Water Gardens, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Companion plants for irises
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hello...what do you suggest as a companion plant for irises? I live in the Texas Hill Country. Thanks.ANSWER:
There are several of possibilities for companion plants for your iris, depending on whether they are growing in a flower bed or growing in a wet boggy area. Many native irises [e.g., Iris brevicaulis (zigzag iris) and Iris fulva (copper iris)] grow in marshy areas in the wild, but they also adapt to growing in traditional garden flower beds.
First, here are some suggestions for plants with contrasting color and foliage for a regular well-drained (but with moist soil) flowerbed:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Stachys coccinea (scarlet hedgenettle)
Physostegia intermedia (slender false dragonhead)
If your irises are growing in a semi-aquatic or aquatic area, then here are other suggestions:
Marsilea macropoda (bigfoot waterclover)
Bacopa monnieri (herb of grace)
Hydrocotyle umbellata (manyflower marshpennywort)
Saururus cernuus (lizard's tail)
Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed)
More Water Gardens Questions
Erosion control for edge of artificial lake in California
August 14, 2013 - How about erosion control at the edge of an artificial lake in Southern California? Juncus and ..?
view the full question and answer
Pond plants that ducks will NOT eat
March 27, 2009 - What kind of pond plants are there that ducks will NOT eat?
view the full question and answer
Plants for wetlands in Illinois
September 21, 2008 - I have a home that is just above a wetlands in Northern Illinois. It is on a river and the wetlands go from bone dry to under 3 feet of water. The shoreline is beginning to erode where there are no tr...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for water garden in Garland, TX
June 13, 2006 - Hello, I was interested in creating a water garden-koi pond in the landscaping and was interested to know what plants you would suggest for this usage that would be perennial? Furthermore I was intere...
view the full question and answer
Planting times for aquatic plants from Winston Salem NC
July 12, 2012 - I need to know the correct time of year to plant the following pond plants
Swamp Rose Mallow, Southern Blue Iris, Soft Rush, American Bur-reed, American lotus, Woolgrass and Duck Potato
Is it better...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |