PROPAGATION
Anyway, as I was saying, iris
pseudacorus is quite hardy and prolific, given it’s exotic good looks.
It first caught my eye in a seed catalog which used the term, “Thrives on
neglect”. Well, this really spurred my imagination, because if
there’s anything I am capable of supplying, it’s neglect, so when I first
found an example for sale in no haughtier a venue than Wal-Mart, I dropped
it into my cart and headed for home.
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Back
at the ranch, I not only have several large ponds, but numerous damp
marshy areas. This is the domain of Yellow Flag Iris, or Pale Yellow
Iris as it is sometimes called, for it flourishes in wet places and
is very tolerant of low light. It will flourish around the edges of
ponds and part of the way up the banks.
Just put the rhizomes under enough
soil that they don't float, and leave them alone. If you buy a
few starters, in two or three seasons, you'll have plenty to transplant to
other locations, should you so desire.
The mature plant consists of a clump
of sword-like leaves reaching about three feet tall and it produces a
plethora of bright yellow flowers from May through July. It is quite
similar to domesticated species of Iris, with the notable exception that
it lacks that sweet fragrance (so you needn’t risk falling into the swamp
when leaning in to catch a whiff).
CAVEAT
We’re told that one shouldn’t plant
Yellow Flags where cattle can feed on them, and you should probably keep in
mind that some consider it an invasive species in much the same way
cattail is considered so. It is listed as a noxious weed in Montana
and Washington.
Personally, I have planted them among
cat-tails where my plan is to let the two species duke it out.
OTHER USES
On a more positive note, bees love it,
and the root has been used for several medicinal purposes in the history
of herbal remedies, including as a cure for toothache,
diarrhea, and cramps
among many others. A drink “similar to coffee” is said to be made
from the seeds, and dyes of yellow and black can be made from the flowers
and roots respectively. It is also used in
sewage treatment, and is known to be able to remove metals from
wastewaters.
