I don't grow them but did a google search on it. It seems they are able to adapt to our climate. They're different from our usual Irises. Very pretty.

Thank you for your response!

I did find the name of the garden at Highland Park--- it's the Iris Friendship Garden. Lots of writeups about it, and it sounds very interesting.

I will be purchasing some Louisiana Iris after I visit there next weekend and see what I like.

I contacted Greg at Iris City Gardens. They carry a number of the Louisianas, and he says they are perfectly hardy in Zone 5.

So, I'll be giving them a try.

Polly

I have La. Irises!!!!!! Took me 2 years to get the one I wanted but I finally have them. Depending on the species you get as to when they bloom. Generally they bloom much earlier than the other Irises. I have Iris Fulva (copper Iris) which is the parent plant of many of the La. Irises being sold in nurseries. Back home in La. they bloom in March or very early April. Here they bloom the end of May or the first week of June. I tried for 2 years to get one of our local nurseries to carry them or at least order some for me and had no luck. I was lucky enough to get someone from back home in La. to send me some.

Penny

Well, here in the Hudson Valley Dorothea K. Williamson is blooming now.

Thanks both for response. I will be going to Highland Park Saturday, so hopefully they will be blooming then. I can't believe there was a type of iris that was hardy here, that I knew nothing about. Polly