Description of Iris louisiana 'Pegaletta'

Iris louisiana 'Pegaletta' is a Louisiana iris grown for bold early summer flowers and strong, upright leaves. It suits wet ground and shallow pond edges where you want height and colour together. You will sometimes see it sold simply as Louisiana iris 'Pegaletta'.

Appearance

It forms a clump of sword-like green leaves, then sends up flower stems that reach around 70 to 90cm. Blooms tend to land in June and July in the UK. Flowers are deep purple with a yellow throat, which shows up well against the foliage.

Care Guide

Louisiana irises like rich, wet soil. Keep the crown wet during the growing season and you will get better flowering.

• Sun: Full sun is best for flowers. Part shade is fine, but you may see fewer blooms.
• Soil: Heavy, fertile compost or clay soil. Add well-rotted organic matter if your bog is light.
• Water level: Damp ground to shallow water, up to about 20cm over the roots.
• Feeding: A spring feed helps, especially in baskets.
• After flowering: Remove spent stems and tidy damaged leaves.

Every few years, lift and divide in spring if the clump gets tight. Replant divisions with the rhizomes just covered in wet soil.

Suitability for Bog Garden

Iris louisiana 'Pegaletta' works well as a feature plant in a bog garden. Put it behind lower growers, or use it to frame a pond edge. It gives a clean, upright shape, so it also looks good next to rounder leaves like hostas.

It is also practical. The leaf clump gives shelter at the bog edge, and the stems give perches for insects. If you want a run of irises, space plants about 40 to 60cm apart so each clump can bulk up.

In a liner-based bog, plant it in a basket or a pocket of heavier compost so it does not dry out at the top in summer.

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