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Iris in pot on shallow pond shelf?

MamaLionMamaLion Posts: 18
in Garden design
Hi everyone. I have recently put in a pond, which I hope will become a wildlife haven. It has an area of very shallow shelf, just a few cm below the water line. Would it be reasonable to put some potted irises (aquatic compost etc) onto these shelves?! If so, what pots could I use that would look nice, and cope with having their bottoms in the water? I may end up just putting a few pebbles on the shelf with home hornwort etc for tadpoles if the irises don't work, but the pond does have another beachy area so I would like to try something different!

Posts

  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    I put my irises (flag ones) in deeper than that. You want what are known as marginals in water as shallow as that, or leave it as a shelf for the wildlife to climb in and out.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,350

    Iris pseudocorus will grow in anything from inches under water to well above as long as it's damp. 

    Here it seeds into dry areas and grows but doesn't flower.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • MamaLionMamaLion Posts: 18

    Thanks for the replies. I'll put them on a deeper shelf then if they'll be happy there and keep the super shallow bit for critters.

    I've decided against pseudocorus as they're just so big! I've gone for the sibirica instead. image

  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    The yellow flag iris (not sure if its the pseudocorus one) was the one I had and it looked very nice.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,495

    Iris sibirica likes moist soil but will die if kept immersed in water. You need Iris versicolor or Iris laevigata if pseudacorus is too big. I agree it is rather a thug - I have it and often have to dig it out as it pops up all over the place!

  • MamaLionMamaLion Posts: 18
    Ah, thank you buttercupdays. I'll look those ones up. And will make sure my sibirica isn't too deep!
  • Kieran WoodKieran Wood Posts: 67

    I have found that actually putting them in tights is much better. I have bought the aquatic baskets and they always end up popping above the water level. I find that if I use tights in a black or brown colour they blend in much better. I found my iris can split them and grow through but they do it with the baskets anyway.

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