The Bearded Iris is a perennial flowering plant that is low maintenance, long lived, and easy to grow. A Bearded Iris displays three upright petals and three hanging petals. The hanging petals are called falls, and the Bearded Iris gets its name from the fuzzy, bearded line that traverses the center of each fall.
The Bearded Iris is the most common member of the Iris genus. Its flowers display a great variety of colors, including blue, pink, purple, white, yellow, and multi-colored combinations. Iris, after all, is the Greek word for rainbow. This dazzling diversity, along with its large flowers, makes the Bearded Iris a constant favorite in ornamental gardens.
Iris grow from underground stems called rhizomes. Well-drained soil is necessary to keep rhizomes from rotting. Plant Bearded Iris in raised beds if necessary for drainage. Otherwise, full sun or part shade will encourage growth and color.
Plant Bearded Iris from July to September, or in spring if container grown. The top of the rhizome should be slightly above soil level, and the roots spread down. A well-prepared bed is key for Bearded Iris. Try 2/3 soil with 1/3 organic mix of peat moss, compost, and processed manure.
If flowering is poor, your Bearded Iris is likely receiving too much shade or nitrogen fertilizer. Crowding can also cause limited flowering. Divide your Bearded Iris every three or four years to keep them happy.
If you're looking for fragrant cultivars of Bearded Iris, re-blooming variants are your best choice. Bearded Iris tends to crowd out weeds, and when planted en masse forms lovely rows and garden borders.