With their distinctive spikes of colorful flowers emerging from sturdy, strap-shaped foliage, bearded iris are stunning garden plants. They are available in a rainbow of hues, including bi-colors, come in a wide range of sizes and depending on the variety, flower early, mid-season or late. Growers have recently hybridized a new strain known as remontant (re-blooming) that will flower in the spring and again in mid-summer to fall.Besides their beauty, bearded iris are also easy to grow as long as they are planted in full or partial sun, in well-draining soil. Once established, they are water thrifty and prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Use them to highlight rockeries, borders or in mixed perennial beds.The best time to plant or transplant from divisions is after they have completed their blooming cycle or during the late summer. The following are a few easy guidelines on planting and dividing bearded iris.
Supplies Needed:
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Organic material such as humus, compost or soil amendment (if planting in a new bed)
- Root stimulator containing indolebutyric acid or naphthalene acetic acid
- Granular organic fertilizer
- Shovel
- Knife
- Gloves
- Garden Scissors
Planting Bearded Iris:
| 1.) Remove weeds, rocks or grass before planting |
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| 2.) Mix 1/3 organic material with 2/3 existing soil |
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| 3.) Add 1 cup of organic granular fertilizer per plant |
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| 4.) Spread out the roots of the rhizome and face the foliage (usually trimmed into a fan-shape) in one direction |
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| 5.) Barely cover the rhizome, no more than one-inch deep to avoid root rot and space 12 to 24-inches apart |
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| 6.) Water thoroughly after planting |
Dividing Bearded Iris:
| 1.) Divide rhizomes every 4-5 years |
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| 2.) Carefully dig up the iris clumps with a shovel and divide, making sure each rhizome has a set of leaves |
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| 3.) Shake off the soil and rinse off with water |
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| 4.) Trim off the leaves into a fan-shape leaving about 6-inches |
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| 5.) Discard old, leafless or rotten rhizomes |
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| 6.) Follow steps 3-6 under “Planting Bearded Iris” |
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| 7.) Fertilize again with an organic food in the spring after new growth emerges |
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