Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Pickerel Rush and Gamecock Iris

Just purchased Pickerel Rush and Gamecock Iris for the pond!

Both are native to my area and according to my research will provide aesthetics as well as beneficial habitat to small fish and other aquatic critters. I figured nature would provide some plants I didn't want, so I'd go ahead and put some in that I do want.

Time will tell if this was a good call or not! I'll keep you updated; shipping early next week.

Blue flag spreads slowly compared to many other marginal pond plants. It spreads too slowly for most pond owners who like the flowers and height of the plants. IMO blue flag is many times better than cattails. At times when the pond is overflowing blue flag could be in 18" to very rarely 2ft of water. It can survive when on wet pond banks above the water line. Normally it likes living in water 0" to 10"- and up to 16" deep at high water level. .

I try to plant mine close to the low water level. That's worked for me, and none of the iris died.

Afterthought: On second thought, the iris I planted was fully grown, and not just the tubers. I would plant the iris tubers just like the instructions suggested.

Here's a 2 yo summer "normal" water level batch.

I have had Blue Iris survive when the pond was 9' low for almost a year................

Wanted to circle back to this post now that it's been awhile since planting.

The gamecock iris didn't make it; in hindsight I wish I would have established it in smaller pots before trying to plant it directly into the shallow pond water. That's a mistake I won't make next time.

Good news is the pickerel rush is thriving. Each plant has tripled in size and are now flowering. My plan is to divide next year during late winter/early spring and transplant to other areas of the pond. Establishing desired plants will hopefully negate undesirables if I can stay on top of it.