The tall, beautiful iris, named after the Greek goddess who rode rainbows, comes in many magical colors. Despite its divine origins, this June bloomer is rugged, reliable, and easy to grow. Plant from midsummer to fall! Here’s how to plant properly—plus, important iris plant care tips.
There are some 300 species in the genus Iris. The most familiar irises are the tall (at least 28 inches) bearded irises (Iris germanica).
These distinctive six-petaled flowers have three outer hanging petals (called “falls”) and three inner upright petals (called “standards”).
Irises may be a “bearded” type or crested (beardless). Bearded iris are so-called because they have soft hairs along the center of the falls. In crested iris, the hairs form a comb or ridge.
Most irises flower in early summer. Some—mostly bearded hybrids—are remontant, flowering again later in the summer.
Irises attract butterflies and hummingbirds, and make lovely cut flowers. For iris companions in the garden, look to roses, peonies, and lilies.
Reader Comments
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Iris
Hi, my Iris's after blooming had an eggy shape thing come out of the flower died, can you tell me what that is,,,thank you
egg shaped growth
That is a seed pod!
Iris
Something is eating my leaves of my Iris. What can I put on them?
Iris borer
It might be an iris borer. This can only be controlled by sanitation and the timely application of insecticides. Remove and destroy dead iris foliage in late fall or early spring. This will eliminate many of the iris borer eggs. An insecticide should be applied in spring when the new shoots are 4 to 6 inches tall. An application of an insecticide at this time should destroy small iris borer larvae before they have the opportunity to bore into the iris foliage. Speak to your local cooperative extension or garden center about treatments approved in your area.
Iris
Thanks for your timely iris information.
Iris and weeds
How do I keep grass and weeds from growing in my iris bed?
Weed Control in Iris Beds
Yes, weeds can be challenging in iris beds! Annual grasses, such as crabgrass and foxtail, can be controlled by hand pulling.
But perennial grasses, such as quackgrass, are much more difficult to control as they spread via underground stems or rhizomes. One option is to dig up the irises in July or August and replant them in a different (weed-free) location. Another option is to dig up the irises in July or August, set the irises in a shady location, and then dig up the grass and carefully remove the rhizomes and other plant parts. Dig up the area 2 or 3 times over a 3 to 4 week period, each time removing any rhizomes visible in the soil. Replant the irises in their original location after thorough eradication efforts. Quackgrass cannot be controlled by hand pulling. Herbicides are not a practical control measure for home gardeners.
Mulch is helpful in preventing weed growth, but it should be used sparingly (no greater than a 2-inch layer) to avoid disease problems. There are many herbicides labeled for use on irises.
weeds in iris bed
Can I spray the entire bed with a product like weed be gone to solve the problem
Soil for Iris
Planning to split and spread Irises - how should I prepare soil in new location? Thanks
Soil for Iris
Please see the “Planting” section, above!
After the bloom ...
Hi, i enjoy my irises each year and have had them in my yard since my mother planted them when I was a child. I'm now 68. They were transplanted just once from one side of the yard to the other. Beautiful each year. My question is this: after the flower wilts away there is a "bud" on the stem. What is this bud? Is it a seed to plant. If so I would like to plant them elsewhere ... look forward to your reply.
Iris Seeds
A seed pod will develop after the flower—however, you’d be much better off transplanting a couple of the existing rhizomes to another area. The seeds will take a long time to produce blooming plants, whereas the rhizomes should bloom in a year or two.
Irises Dug Up
Our gas company is working on gas lines and dig up an entire bed of our irises. I transplanted them in another location, but what else can I do to ensure their health?
Transplanting Irises
Irises transplant fairly easily; in fact, the general guideline is to “thin” irises every 3 or so years by digging them up, dividing them, and replanting.
It’s hard for us to answer your question because the main issues in transplanting are timing (September) as well as how you prepare the beds and plants. That part is done.
Here’s what you should have done: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/flowers/iris.html
At this point, we hope the planting went well. Just avoid over-watering; irises hate wet feet and they will rot if water logged.
Unopened flowers
Something is eating my buds before they open. HELP!
Iris bud eaters
Are you sitting down? This is not pretty. Your iris are the victims of a small white Orthacheta Bud Fly maggot that bores into the side of the bud and eats the pollen inside. We’ll let the cooperative extension service explain further: When you see a small hole in the side of a bud or a disfigured blossom, remove it and check the stem. If there is no sign of passage, then you have it. Carefully break the bud or blossom apart, look for the maggot and destroy it. You can also put them into a zip lock bag for destruction. If the stem shows sign of passage, then the maggot has gone down the stem to change into the fly. Another good way to control an out break of the Orthacheta Bud Fly is to spray with a systemic when the buds have formed, this can be done when spraying for iris borers. Consult a local nursery for the proper systemic.
Iris stalks falling over
We have several beds of irises, and each year when they bloom, some fall over and lay on the ground. What do we need to prevent this happening?
falling irises
It turns out that there may be several reasons for irises falling over:
• the rhizome or toe of the plant may be deep enough
• the rhizomes may need to be divided (do it at the end of July or beginning of August)
• they may be in the shade and be reaching for sunshine, on weak stems due to lack of sunshine
• they may be over fertilized with a high-nitrogen product
• if none of those ideas apply, you can brace the plants with purchased metal supports (similar to tomato or peony cages) with one steel/metal stem support and a loop (to encircle the flower) at the top.
Pests
I have heard that critters can dig up bulbs for food. Is there anything I can do to lessen the possibility until my flowers are established?
Round-up---will it "kill" irises. I have a bed where they are
I have a bed where they are growing beautifully----problem IS- I have a plant called "camilion plant" (it's colorful but very annoring that ' s spreading EVERYWHERE , even into the grass nearby dispite the edging in place. Please advise..... I've tried digging it up by the roots last year---that
doesn't work, IT keeps coming back in abundance, and SPREADING!!!!!!
What can I do to get rid of this invasive plant.?????
Chameleon Plant
As you’ve seen, the dreaded chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata) is a very, very invasive plant. Unfortunately, other than repeatedly and diligently pulling up and disposing of the plant (in a fire or the trash; NOT in your compost pile!), there’s not much you can do to get rid of it. If grown in a container, it can be kept in check, but once it’s already got its roots in the ground, it will keep spreading.
We do not recommend using chemicals in this case—chameleon plants have been known to survive most herbicides, but using one will certainly damage the other plants in the bed (including irises).
Dutch Iris? Dividing
I have a small 10-12 inch tall iris clump that is heavily infested with grass. How do I best clean it up. I would post a picture, if possible.
Cat litter on iris
I read somewhere that cat litter is good for irises. ??
Cat Litter for Irises
Hi Patrice,
There is some discussion about certain types of clay-based cat litter that can be used to plant irises in water (such as a backyard pond), but we wouldn’t recommend using cat litter on irises. Cat litter is highly absorbent and would most likely absorb all of the water around the plant’s roots, which would be harmful. We hope this helps!
Tall blue flag iris
I encountered very tall blue flag iris in Quebec. They were at least 40 inches tall. The ones described on your site are 28 inches tall. What plants was I seeing in Quebec? Where would I get them? Thanks for your time.
the tallest irises
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. What you may have seen are Iris Spuria, aka salt marsh or butterfly iris, native to central and southern Europe. They reach 3 to 5 (some sources say 6) feet in height, produce “beardless” flowers in bluish purple/lilac hues as well as white, wine, and brown. These bloom one to two weeks after Tall Bearded Irises. Search the Web; several nurseries offer them.
keep iris color they seem to bloom white the next year
how to keep the colors of the iris keep them from all blooming white the next year
question about pruning iris
I live in South Carolina and my iris have tall green leaves all year round -- few seldom get brown or die back -- is there ever a time that these leaves should be pruned?
when to prune
In mild climates, the foliage may remain green throughout the winter. You can remove dead or damaged leaves at any time, bu you should cut back the foliage in fall or early winter. (If you have never done this and the plants bloom well, wait until fall; don’t do it now.) Every few years, make a habit of dividing them, too.
Storing iris
We are moving, it is late fall here. I would like to take some iris with me but don’t know how long it will be before we take possession. Can I take them up, clean off the roots and keep them for any amount of time? By the time we actually get in it might be frozen here.
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