you’ve got the option to even get some torebloom.
Heres our guide to growing bearded iris, which can start blooming as early as March in warmer areas.
Select a spot with full sun and well-drained slightly acidic soil.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Bearded irises need good air circulation so give them room to breathe.
Bearded iris is toxic to humans and pets.
Plant the iris rhizomes so they are at or just slightly below the soil surface.
Credit: Robert Cardillo
It is key that the top of the rhizome is still visible.
Planting irises too deeply leads to rotting and will lead to poor flowering.
Spread out the roots on either side and let the fan of leaves face the same direction.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Plant bearded irises 12 to 18 inches apart, with more ample spacing for tall varieties.
Light
Bearded Iris need at leastsix hours of sunlight per day.
A full day of sun is even better to keep the rhizomes on the dry side.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Soil and Water
The plants needwell-drained soil.
After planting, water your irises and keep the soil moist for the first few weeks.
Established irises only need water if the soil is extremely dry.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Do not mulch.Mulching helps the soil retain moisture, and too much moisture causes the rhizomes to rot.
Be careful about applying fertilizer so you dont get it on the rhizome.
Pruning
It’s best todeadhead your bearded irises once the flowers fade.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
At least remove seed pods after the plant blooms.
Seed formation saps the energy needed by the rhizomes, roots, and leaves.
Prune back the foliagein the fall.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
This will reduce the risk of overwintering pests and diseases.
The top of the rhizome should be exposed, just like when planting in garden soil.
Potted irises need regular watering and more frequent fertilizer than irises in the landscape.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Pests and Problems
Bearded iris aresusceptible to aphids, iris borers, and bacterial leaf spot.
The best way to prevent these is to keep the garden area clean and give the plants ample space.
Replant (or give away) the new plants.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The upright “standards” are solid yellow.
And the tiny fuzzy “beard” in the middle is white and yellow.
Here are a few different iris varieties to grow.
Credit: Andy Lyons
‘Bumblebee Deelite’ Dwarf Bearded Iris
This variety is a dwarf tall bearded iris with yellow blooms.
The petals have a white and deep purple-veined pattern that makes a bold contrast on each flower.
‘Perfect Pitch’ Bearded Iris
‘Perfect Pitch’ is a true purple bearded iris with ruffled petals.
Credit: David McDonald
It’s a tall variety, and it looks especially stunning planted alongside a few paler purple irises.
The top petals of the bloom are a light purple, while the falls are dark violet.
The petals fade into orange and gold tones toward the center of the bloom.
The outer edges of the petals become such a dark red that they almost look chocolate brown in places.
These perennial poppies bloom longer in places where evenings remain cool during the summer months.
They are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Their large pea-like flowers come in amazing colors and combinations, clustered in long spikes on sturdy stems.
Many feature a white center, which adds a bright contrast to the deep, rich blue.
There are some stunning coral-colored varieties and rare yellow ones as well.
These plants have attractive foliage in a pleasing green, with palm-shaped leaves like a fern.
Some of the early bloomers bloom again in late summer to early fall.
For continuous color, plant some of each of the three classifications.
Yes, bearded iris, like all irises, are rarely browsed by deer.
Rich, well-drained soil works best.
Test your soil before adding anything.
The best soil pH would be about 6.8.
You may need to add lime if your soil is acidic or sulfur if its alkaline.
Before you get started, soak the rhizomes in water overnight to help hydrate the roots.
You dont want the roots to dry out before you plant them.
“Iris x germanica.
“North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
University of Connecticuts College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.
How to Plant and Grow Bearded Iris.
The American Iris Society.
