PlantFiles: Louisiana Iris
Iris 'Black Gamecock'

I bought this plant back in April of 2009 at a local nursery, it was in full bloom when I bought it. I planted it into the ground and by the end of summer it was looking pretty bad. Then I discovered it needed to stay moist and realizing in my hot sandy soil that wasn't going to happen, so I moved it to a big ceramic pot that stays pretty moist. All year in 2010 I had luscious green growth, but never any blooms, it tripled in size. Over wintered just fine with temps dipping into the upper twenties quite a few nights. Then this year I added some coffee grounds to it, read somewhere that they like them. At first they yellowed and I thought I made a mistake, but then greened up a deep dark green. And to my surprise I got lots of flowers for the first time the end of March through the first weeks of April. It seems to be done flowering now and I'm letting those stalks go to seed. I'm just so happy it finally flowered. The flowers don't last but a couple days but are so beautiful.

What a stunning display it makes. Mine is planted inground, part sun and while not in a very boggy area, I did take care to plant it where the sprinkler will hit it for sure.

It has been a fast multiplier, though I'm hoping that having it in less than full sun and not as moist will slow down its enthusiasm for spreading.

A very regal shade of purple. Blooms in June in my garden.

I am attempting to grow 5 gamecocks in the small flower bed right in front of my house. I have the moisture right, the full sunlight and the acidity. So far they aren't doing too bad.

Could someone advise me on how often to fertilize my plants.

The Louisiana Iris is indeed a durable beauty.

We grow them in a natural pond, in pots, in the ground, all
over. True to form, they bloom best when grown in water.
Can be grown in a container with adequate watering or in
a pot with a tray of water beneath.

Endures the winter as if it didn't have a care in the world,
blooming in late spring to early summer.

Gorgeous!

Grows in the pond, alongside the pond, in pots, in tubs, in sun in part-sun.....

Blooms well and multiplies quickly.

BLACK GAMECOCK: (F. Chowning, R. 1978). Sdlg. FC77-12. LA 24" (61 cm) L. "Blue-black (RHS 103A) self; narrow gold line signal. Unknown parentage., Melrose Gardens 1980." Very hardy here in 5a/b. Easily grown in damp, boggy or consistently moist soil. Requires somewhat acidic conditions which can easily be achieved by addition of garden sulphur or Miracid commercial fertilizer.

Awards: American Iris Society Honorable Mention '82, Award of Merit '86, Mary Swords Debaillon Award '89

I just added this to my pond this year. More as the year progresses.

I have several of these iris in my iris bog next to my pond, and also planted in my front garden where it seems to do equally as well in spring moist/well drained soil. This is one of the few iris I can say reliably blooms each year. Flag iris, does, of course, but I haven't had as much luck with other types such as bearded.

I bought mine from a local nursery in early Spring of 2003, and it flowered in May here in Northcentral Florida, zone 8b, and is now growing in a low, wet spot near a Brown Turkey fig tree with several other kinds of iris. It eventually had several flowers and three seed pods. I let the pods hang on the stalks for months--I eventually had to stake them--and when the pods started turning yellow, I opened them up and found seeds, despite the pods having several insect holes bored into them. I planted the seeds in light potting soil and late this summer I saw about a dozen little sprouts. I shared some of the sprouts with friends and planted the rest in my garden, where so far several have survived both dogs and squirrels. Next time I will let the seedlings stay in a pot for at least a year.

'Black Gamecock' is noted for its "outrageous vigor," and is a parent of the "Voodoo Series" of Louisiana irises. It has short stalks and blooms late, and is the 1989 Debaillon Medal winner, the most prestigious award for Louisiana iris. It makes a strong statement in the garden, despite it's deep color. The petals look like dark purple/black velvet. I strongly recommend this plant as a first purchase if you are just getting started in Louisiana irises.

It grows well in my pond planted in 2" of clay pellets over a 4 inch layer of heavy clay soil submersed in 3 inches of water in full sun. I fertilize with houseplant stakes every month.

Hybridized from Louisiana, it grows very well in my southern Utah pond and bog gardens. It also does well in moist borders in partial shade gardens. Less light and higher alkalinity resualt in pailer color. Very hardy.