While bearded irises have long been a mainstay of generations of gardeners, Iris is a genus of over 200 species and includes bearded, beardless and bulbous varieties.
One of the easiest ways to add color to your spring garden is to plant a selection from each variety of iris. Iris come in two forms: bulbous and rooted. Bulbous irises are among the earliest of the spring blooming bulbs, often emerging through the snows of late winter. Their striking colors are a sure sign spring is on its way. Bulbous iris includes Dutch iris, Dwarf iris, as well as Iris reticulata, often called miniature iris. Of these, Dwarf Iris will bloom first in the spring, followed by Iris reticulata and then Dutch iris. Dutch Iris are available in shades of white, purple, yellow and blue. ‘Katherine Hodgkin’ is a popular Dwarf Iris. ‘Harmony’ is the choice for Iris reticulata. Late September into October is the time to plant bulbous iris.
The same holds true for the two other prominent members of the iris family: bearded and beardless. Unlike their bulbous cousins, bearded and beardless iris are planted from roots or more correctly, rhizomes. While the bulbous irises are smaller in height, the rhizome types are taller, with larger flowers.
Whichever variety you choose, the planting requirements are the same. Select a site in the garden that will receive full sun. Once you’ve selected a sunny site, plan to incorporate 5 inches to 6 inches of organic material with your existing soil. Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost is a good choice. While you're at it, work in some Bone Meal or Dutch Bulb Food. Used at planting time, these fertilizers will provide the nutrients necessary to promote good root development.
Plant your bulbous iris point end up about 4 inches deep, then cover with soil. After planting, water the bed thoroughly. Your bulbs will start rooting right away. As the temperatures cool down, the bulbs will go dormant. When the soil warms up in the spring, your bulbous iris will wake up and begin to grow and bloom. After flowering, the foliage will fade away and the bulb will remain dormant until the following spring. Once in place, your bulbous iris should bloom for many seasons.
When planting bearded iris, it’s important to know there is a “front and back”, a toe and a heel. The leaf indicates the heel side. Iris will grow in the direction of the heel, so keep that in mind when you're planting, especially if they're going to be growing along a path or fence. Another important factor to remember when you're planting your iris rhizomes is to avoid planting too deep. Iris do best when planted so the top of the rhizome is right at the soil level or just thinly covered. If you plant iris too deep, the leaves may develop but chances are the plant won't bloom. In turn, you’ll want to plant Siberian iris deeper than bearded iris, covering the rhizomes with two to three inches of soil. Siberian iris should be placed two feet apart.
Even if you decide to grow nothing but bearded irises, you can enjoy a remarkable range of color and by choosing early and mid-season varieties, the bloom season will span several months. Some bearded irises are “rebloomers”, blooming again in the summer, fall or winter. Additional water and fertilizer applied during the summer months encourages them to bloom again.
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