Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Black Gamecock Louisiana Iris: Velvet Purple for Wet Ground
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Black Gamecock Louisiana iris has huge, flat-opening flowers 4 to 6 inches across in the deepest purple, so velvety they look almost black. Each petal carries a thin gold signal line at its base, a small detail that catches the light. It is one of the most widely grown and hardiest Louisiana irises, and it earned the top American Iris Society award for its group.
It also loves wet feet, which puts it at the opposite end of the yard from lavender.
Black Gamecock at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Iris 'Black Gamecock' (Louisiana iris) |
| Flowers | 4 to 6 inches, velvety deep purple with a narrow gold signal |
| Foliage | Glossy green, sword-shaped |
| Size | 24 to 36 inches tall, about 24 inches wide, spreading in wet soil |
| Bloom | Starts mid-June, peaks late June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 10 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for bees and hummingbirds; deer resistant |
The wet side of a lavender property
Every lavender grower knows the low spot where water sits after a storm. Lavender will not survive there. Black Gamecock will thrive there. It was bred from irises native to Gulf Coast wetlands and is at home in bogs, rain gardens, shallow pond margins and soggy corners.
So the pairing is about the whole garden, not a single bed. Put lavender on the high, sandy ground and let Black Gamecock fill the low, wet ground. Its deep purple blooms in late June echo the lavender coming into color up the slope, tying the two areas together. Map the wet and dry zones in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting a bare root rhizome
- When: late summer or early fall is ideal in Michigan.
- How deep: shallowly, with the rhizome just at or barely below the soil surface.
- Soil: rich, acidic to neutral, and consistently moist or wet.
- First winter: mulch to prevent heaving, and do not let the site dry out in fall.
Care through the year
Keep the soil moist all season; in a dry late summer the foliage can look ragged. After bloom, cut spent flower stalks to the base. In fall, removing old foliage helps reduce leaf spot and rust the next year. Divide clumps when they become crowded; in rich, wet soil it spreads quickly.
Iris rhizomes and leaves are irritating and can cause stomach upset if eaten, so plant them where pets and small children will not chew on them.
Frequently asked questions
Can it grow in a regular garden bed?
Only if you keep it consistently moist. It does best where the soil stays wet or damp.
Is it hardy in Michigan?
Yes. It is rated for zones 4 to 10 and is one of the hardier Louisiana irises. Shallow late-summer planting and a first-winter mulch help.
Can I cut it for arrangements?
Yes. It is a good cut flower, and several buds open in sequence on each stem.
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