Judi Dench
Iris Murdoch
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The tall, beautiful iris, named after the Greek goddess who rode rainbows, comes in many magical colors. Despite its divine origins, this beautiful flower is rugged, reliable, and easy to grow. Learn to plant and care for irises for long-term success in your gardens.
- How to Divide Bearded Irises—With Pictures
This is hot, heavy work involving a lot of digging, so I...
- Growing Japanese Iris
Japanese iris are heavy feeders. Fertilize them with a...
- How to Divide Bearded Irises—With Pictures
- Where to Plant Iris
- How and When to Plant Iris
- Iris Care Tips
- Pests and Problems
- How to Propagate Iris
- Types of Iris
- Iris Companion Plants
For the best bloom, plant iris in a sunny location. If your climate is on the hot side, some shade is acceptable. Almost all irises need well-drained soil but there are some species that prefer more moisture than others. The ideal soil for irises is slightly acidic but irises are quite adaptable pH-wise. There are lots of possibilities for planting...
Iris should be planted early enough in the late summer or early fall so that their roots are well established before the winter cold sets in. In cool climates, this can be as early as mid-July, whereas in southern locations planting in the early fall is fine. Space several plants 1`2 to 24 inches apart, depending on variety—irises have a tendency t...
Light
When it comes to sunlight, all irises need six to eight hours of full sunfor the best blossoms and foliage growth. In too much shade, they may stretch for the sun and become leggy and prone to flopping over. Also, the plants will be less likely to bloom.
Soil and Water
Bearded and bulb-type irises need well-drained soilto thrive because they will rot easily in soggy conditions. Many of the iris species are native to rocky mountainsides where there is sharp drainage. If you are looking for a species to grow in moist soil, look for a Louisiana iris, Japanese iris, or a yellow flag iris. Because there are such differences in the growing conditions of irises, make sure to do a little research before planting so you can provide your particular iris with what it...
Temperature and Humidity
Irises vary in their cold-hardiness. Siberian irises are especially hardy and don’t like extremely hot summers while others, such as Bamboo iris (Iris confusa) can even be grown in southern climates up to zone 11. Irises are relatively tolerant of humidity.
Irises are fairly pest-free, but iris borers are their one nemesis. This bug does most of its damage around blossom time, often between mid-April and mid-June. They chew their way into the leaves and then burrow down into the rhizome, leaving behind a trail of frass, a powdery brown residue. Once at their destination, the borers can eat several rhi...
Bearded irises and other rhizomatous types will eventually need to be divided every two to five years, which is also the way to propagate them. If it has been quite some time since their last division and your irises seem to be flowering less and less, chances are it's time for them to be divided. The best time to divide and replantmost irises is l...
'Bennerup Blue' Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica'Bennerup Blue' produces cobalt-blue flowers with small white blotches. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 3-9
'Electric Rays' Iris
Iris ensata'Electric Rays' is a Japanese iris with large double violet flowers streaked with white. This award-winning variety grows 3 feet tall. Zones 5-9
'Caesar's Brother' Siberian iris
This variety of Iris sibiricais a classic Siberian iris with stunning deep purple blooms. Zones 3-8
Thrift
If you have a hot, dry spot with excellent drainage, you must give thrift a try. A small, tidy plant, it covers itself with adorable bobbing pink flowers. It's a charming groundcover, edging plant, or rock garden feature. When planted in large groups, it forms a mat of attractive grassy foliage and colorful marble-size balls of flowers. Also called sea pink, this tough plant tolerates wind, sea spray, and is drought-tolerant. They do need well-drained soil to prevent root rot.
Primrose
Take a walk down the primrose path and you'll never look back! Primroses are a classic cottage flowerand are popular with collectors. They covet the hundreds of different primroses available, especially some of the tiny rare alpine types. Many are staples of cottage gardens and rock gardens, while others provide spring color to damp places, rain gardens, and bog gardens. Their basal rosettes of oval leaves are often puckered or are very smooth. The colorful flowers may be borne singly or rise...
Peony
Perhaps the best-loved perennials, herbaceous peonies belong in almost every garden. Their sumptuous flowers—single, semidouble, anemone centered or Japanese, and fully double—in glorious shades of pinks and reds as well as white and yellow announce that spring has truly arrived. The handsome fingered foliage is usually dark green and remains good-looking all season long. Provide deep rich soil with plenty of humus to avoid dryness, and don't plant the crowns more than 2 inches beneath the su...
- Nadia Hassani
Iris is a flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera.
Apr 11, 2024 · iris, (genus Iris), genus of about 300 species of flowering plants, including some of the world’s most popular and varied garden flowers. The diversity of the genus is centerd in the north temperate zone, though some of its most handsome species are native to the Mediterranean and central Asian areas.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Outdoors. Flowers and Plants. Iris Flower: Varieties to Grow and How to Care for Them. Learn popular iris varieties that flower in a multitude of colors and the meaning behind the flower's name. By: Julie Martens Forney. Bulbs Plants Flowers. Stir up some spring color by including iris flowers in your landscape.
- Julie Martens Forney
Care – American Iris Society. How to Plant and Grow Bearded Iris. Bearded irises are relatively easy garden plants to grow and will give good results with a minimum of care, but like all plants, the better the culture the more magnificent the display.
May 6, 2021 · A hardy herbaceous perennial, Iris is both the common and botanical name for this large genus in the Iridaceae family. These plants are beloved by gardeners for their colorful and fragrant flowers that bloom on tall, sturdy stems. Some close family members you’re likely familiar with include crocus, freesia, and gladiolus.
