Grow Irises for Easy Elegance in Your Garden

Bulbs

With many dissimilar types and colour usable , there is an fleur-de-lis for nearly every garden . nominate after the Greek goddess of the rainbow , iris bring color to the garden in spring and summer . The vast absolute majority are crossbreed with the most popular beingbearded irises . Other popular varieties include Siberian and Japanese sword lily , Louisiana irises which are native to North America , and Dutch hybrid .

IRIS BASICS

Photo by : Jeanne Provost / Shutterstock .

Zones:

mixture suitable for zones 3 - 9

Height/Spread:

Irises come in many different size , some as short as six inches and others can grow up to four feet .

Exposure:

sword lily need full sun at least half the day . Some varieties will tolerate part nuance such as Siberian irises and Pacific Coast native ( Iris innominata , Iris tenax , Iris macrosiphonandIris douglasiana ) . Many irises will arise in total shade , but they most likely wo n’t blossom .

Bloom Time:

The majority of irises will flower in bound or summertime . Dwarf varieties tend to bloom earlier in leaping , with intermediate size of it blooming afterward spring , and taller barbate varieties blooming late spring and summer . Reblooming varieties will produce blossom once in summer and again in fall .

Color:

There is an extremely wide mixed bag of colour , set out from white to almost black ; although most vernacular in shades of lavender , purple , whitened and sensationalistic .

Toxicity:

Iris are known to be toxic to pets , with the bulb being the most toxic part . See moreCommon venomous Plants for Dogs and Cats .

TYPES OF IRISES

There are 2 chief groups of sword lily : rhizomatous and bulbous . The bulging irises bloom in tardy bound , while the rhizomatous irises bloom during summertime .

Rhizomatous irises:

grow from rhizomes ( a type of electric light ) and can be further divided into 3 family :

Bulbous irises:

This mathematical group include the Dutch hybrids and the smaller reticulated or dwarf iris . They all shed their leaves after the blooming season and go into a inactive phase over summertime . Dutch hybrids run to blossom originally than the magniloquent whiskered rhizomatous diverseness and are the well - known sort featured in florist ’s springiness corsage . Reticulated irises are well - suited for rise in grouping , but should be divided every two to three years to prevent overcrowding . They are also right forrock gardensand force in pots .

PLANTING IRISES

exposure by : Nadzeya Pakhomava / Shutterstock .

When to plant:

The best time to plant iris diaphragm rhizomes or bulbs is later summertime to early autumn to allow them slew of time to establish roots before the grow time of year stop . In hotter climate , they can be planted in September or October .

Where to plant:

prefer a gay location for your iris where they wo n’t be capable to standing water . call forth beds are ideal for growing irises , as they provide the honest drain needed .

How to plant:

Prepare the planting beds up to two weeks ahead by undo soil to a deepness of 10 - 12 inch to demonstrate skillful drainage . At this fourth dimension , organic matter can also be mix in . Iris rhizomes should be planted so that they are somewhat seeable on the soil surface , or thinly cover in warmer climates . They can be top dress with a low - nitrogen fertiliser ( stave off high-pitched - nitrogen as it can cause decompose ) . Make 2 rows in the soil with a small ridge in between . Place the rootstalk on the rooftree and distribute the roots to either side . Steve Schreiner , of Schreiner ’s Iris Gardens in Oregon , sound out , “ There are two cause iris do n’t blossom : plant too deep or not enough Lord’s Day . ” Iris lightbulb , such as Dutch irises , should be planted at a astuteness of 5 inches , indicate end up and roots down , spacing them at 6 bulbs per satisfying foot .

Soil:

Most irises opt average to fertile , indifferent to slightly acidic , well - drain soil . However , Japanese irises prefer lime - costless ground .

For more on planting bulb seeBulbs 101 : Planting and store Bulbs

IRIS CARE

Maintenance:

slue back the flowering stubble after blossom , but leave the foliage intact so it can carry on to gather and store nutrients and energy to be stored for the next time of year . Trim allow off at footing spirit level after they turn yellow in fall ; this will trim back the possibility of overwintering disease or pests .

Dividing Iris Rhizomes:

Rhizomatous types ask to be divided every 3 - 5 class , typically soon after blooming metre . A simplification in blooming or rootstalk being pushed up out of the soil can be planetary house that it ’s prison term to comprehend them up and separate . If this is a dividing year , do n’t thin the foliage back - so you know where they are . Dig the rhizome up carefully and separate them by pulling apart with your script . Some , however , may need to be cut with a tongue . levelheaded rhizome will be or so ¾ to 1 - inch in diameter , with a effective root structure and one to two folio fans . old or insalubrious ( soft , rotting , or hollow ) rhizomes should be discarded . Wash the roots with water system and scrutinise for disease or pests , especially iris borer worms . Trim the leaves to 4 to 6 inches and re - plant as above , with the rhizome on a ridge and roots winnow out . piddle newly planted fleur-de-lis well .

Amendments & Fertilizer:

go for a low - nitrogen fertilizer a month before rosiness metre . Mulch should not be used on top of rhizomes or near the foliage as it can get rot . For reblooming mixed bag , apply a wakeful app program of fertilizer following the first bloom and water regularly during summertime dry periods for an improved second bloom in fall .

Watering:

Irises generally have low water requirements once establish , but can use a little extra if unusually dry just before peak time . Louisiana , Siberian and Japanese irises take more water than the bearded types .

Propagation:

Although irises can be started from seed , it may be a couple of years before they bloom . Most often , they are pass around by section of the bulb or rhizomes in late summer or early fall .

Diseases and Pests:

iris can be badly damaged by iris borer andthripsif not controlled . Whiteflies , slug and snails , aphidsand nematodes may also be a pain . Deer will seldom harm irises , but may at times bite off the blossoms of the crested types , although will usually spit them out and leave them behind . Irises may also be affected by bacterial leaf blight , rhizome rot , leafage spot , rusting , and virus .

Other:

All parting of fleur-de-lis may cause severe irritation if take . baseball glove should be worn when handle iris plant life , rhizomes , or light bulb , as the sap can cause skin irritation .

IRIS PICTURES

picture by : Garden World Images , Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .

Iris‘Beverly Sills’Tall bearded irisBuy now on Amazon

Zones:3 - 9Height / Spread:2 - 1/2 to 3 feet tall , 1 to 2 metrical unit wideExposure : Full sunBloom fourth dimension : Late springiness to early summerColor : Flamingo pink

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