bearded iris

[Mrs Ava]

I have taken over maintaining a garden where the lady wants everything out that doesn't perform for her....meaning I came away today with a sack full of iris rhizomes.  I have never grown iris before, and she had no idea of colour or variety, so my challenge is to get them to flower.  Anyone with some advice for me please.  I believe the rhizomes have to be almost proud of the ground as they like to bake....but anything else??  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

[ACE]

I start mine in small  pots, half out of the compost, cut managable bits of the rhizomes to fit the pots. When they are rooted place in a hole that takes the compost as well, still half out of the ground. I have found that a really lose graveled bed works best as the normal soil compacts too hard around them. Two years down the line dig them up and divide and start all over again.

Take photos of the blooms and try to label them, they are great plants for selling if you get unusual ones especially the 'brown' colours. Easy to mail.

I get mine from the american ebay site, The sales from my calico queen usually pays for a holiday each year.

[Tee Gee]

There is a bit here on them EJ ; http://tinyurl.com/3x6gdu  I think the only tip I could give is depth of planting, i.e. dont bury rhizome

[Grandma]

Luck you, Emma Jane! ACE obviously knows his stuff, so as an 'enthusiastic amateur' grower of these beauties may I just add that, in my experience, they absolutely must be grown in full sun. Also, I find that they don't mind the heavy-ish soil in my garden - in fact it seems to help stop them rocking about in the wind ;D  Sadly, slugs and snails also like them - (don't read this bit if you're anti chemicals, E J!) - so I'm very generous with the little blue pellets before the slimy beasts have a chance to chew up the flower buds!



Best of luck with them. In the right spot they're really no trouble and will quickly multiply - and they are SOOOOOOOOO gorgeous in all their colours  :)

[Grandma]

EJ - forgot to mention - some of them have a really lovely scent, too  :) :) :)

[Paulines7]

I grow a lot of bearded irises and sell them on EBay occasionally.  They are by far my favourite flower and as Grandma says, some of them are beautifully scented.  They certainly need full sun and do better where they have some shelter against a wall or fence.

I went to the USA a few years ago and bought some rebloomers out there.  They can bloom in May and September but mine are still establishing themselves.  My OH wants me to move them somewhere else as he wants a water trough in the area where they are.  I have resisted so far but really wanted to see if they can rebloom in this country before moving them. 

The picture below is from an iris plant that I received from a friend about 15 years ago, just before she passed away.  She didn't know the name of it but it had been in her garden for many years.  It is very beautiful with its olive coloured veins and has the most georgeous perfume.  A good reminder of my very dear friend.