Just was wondering how hard it is to grow Louisiana iris' in iowa? Kim

I don't know about Iowa, but I tried it here in Southern Wisconsin. I got 5 planted, and mulched them really deeply. I got one to bloom one year, the rest lived a couple of years but didn't bloom. Eventually they all died. They need lots of water and an acid soil. Maybe if you have an area next to a building with a Southern exposure you might get them to live a while and bloom for you. I don't think they could survive if we have another winter like last year.

I'm trying some here, in Illinois this year, just as an experiment! I was told that "Black Gamecock" is a very "forgiving" cultivar, and stands up better to drier soils, and colder winters. We'll see! Do you have a pond, or water feature of some sort, Kim ?...Arlyn

I do grow LA's but of course I am in a southern clime. The first year I get a LA I keep its feet wet and after the first year I treat them like all other garden plants. They see to be just fine with it.

Arlyn unfortunately all we have for a water feature is a leaky gutter by our front doorstep. Kim

Then that would be a good place to try the LA then !! ...Seriously though, I was told that for the "water loving" iris, a method to use might be to bury a large ,plastic pan (with sides about 4"-6" high), about 6"-8" deep, under the iris. Theory being, the pan would "hold" the water, and keep it from moving downward. Thus ,the plant would be growing in saturated soil. I think I may try this, as our soil is VERY sandy and porous , and doesn't hold moisture well( which makes it ideal for the bearded, but for LA's and JI's, not so much !). Not sure how well this will work, but I'll never know till I try ! ...Arlyn

On a whim I bought 3 Black Gamecock a three years ago via mail order and they didn't do well. I moved them under a downspout and now have around 70-80. I'm going to have to start digging them up
after blooms finish and wonder if I should cut back all the foliage before shipping them to a friend who has a cottage by a lake.

NOTE: If you ship LA you have to pack them with water around their roots. They can't dry out like the bearded.

Yes, they like lots of water but can be grown without water features. If your soil dries out quickly then the pan idea of Arlyn's would be a help. Keep them mulched and wet and they should be happy.

Another NOTE: Most LA vendors now have varieties that grow better in colder climates, which might be the way to go in Iowa! @kimmer

Where would be a good place to order them from? Or does anyone here have some I could purchase from them? Thanks Leslie for the info. Kim

Bois D'Arc Gardens is a good place to start since they have lots of them. (http://www.bois-darc.com)

And don't be afraid to call a vendor and ask them what they think would grow best in your area since Iowa has such cold winters.