Bearded Iris: Vibrant Colors and Easy Maintenance

Heirloom Iris

In the summer of ’76’ when I was 19 years old, I decided to travel to Europe and England by using Eurail and BritRail train passes. I got about a week into my trip when I found myself on a train heading to Calais from Paris. I caught a ferry across the English Channel to London at midnight, and rode the whole ferry ride resting against my pack with my sweat shirt over my head.

We passed the White Cliffs of Dover early in the morning and got to London about 8 am. The London Museum was one of the earliest places to open so I dragged myself in.

I walked into the first exhibit shifting my pack, then turned and saw Van Gogh’s “Iris” about 3 feet away. Purples, blues, greens and yellows glistened with the layers of shiny oil paint making my eventful trek worthwhile.

The Bearded Iris

The Bearded Iris (Iris x germanica) is purported to be one of the most favorite and oldest perennials in the world. The Fleur-de-lis of France is modeled after the iris flower.

There are 2 types of iris one sees in Virginia gardens namely the Bearded Iris and the Siberian Iris. These are two very different plants. Siberian Iris likes wet feet and bloom off a stem that looks much like a daffodil. These irises have lovely colors but are not as diverse looking as the Bearded variety.

Description

The Bearded Iris has an array of colors from white to pinks, oranges, reds, purples and even black. There are often 2 different color petals on the lower parts of the flower called the ‘fall’ and the upper called ‘standard’. The petals are fuzzy with a ‘beard’ in the ‘fall’. The beard looks like a visiting caterpillar.

The blueish leaf is a great contrast to green leaves and stems we usually see on other plants. The flower is not only stunning but may also have a light fragrance that is easy to miss as you pass by.

Heirloom iris (first picture shown) tend to be taller and thinner in their petal shape as opposed to hybrids which are a bit shorter and wide.

Classifications

There are 6 classifications for Bearded Iris based on their height and bloom period. Classifications range from a miniature dwarf (8″) to a Tall Bearded (32″). The Frequent Flier re-blooming variety gets 28″ high, blooms 3-4 times and year and is fragrant. It is white with a yellow center. Bearded Iris spread over the years but are not invasive like the Siberian iris, obedient plant, goldenrod or euphorbia.

Use

You can use them along sloped banks, at the base of trees, as focal points in perennials or flowering shrub gardens. I use them often as an accent with foundation plants on the corners of a house.

How they Spread

Bearded Iris spread through rhizomes unlike (daffodils, tulips) or tubers (peonies, dahlias). Rhizomes tend to spread laterally as opposed to clumping. This makes their division much easier. Splitting irises is quite simple and best done in the fall, after blooming and the end of their active growing season.

Planting and Splitting

Most Bearded Iris like to sit on the soil. They are fine with little dirt to grow in as they have shallow roots. When you plant them you actually want to faintly see the rhizomes as you view them from above. You actually aim the rhizome root in the direction you want it to travel. The area nearest the blue green fan of leaves is the direction it will go.

If you are rejuvenating a clump of iris, dig up a chunk from the soil with a sharp shovel. Pull apart the rhizomes and cut the old root or “back bulb” off with a sharp tool like a pair of shears. The rule of thumb is that if a rhizome is the size of a big man’s big toe it is ready to be on its own. Otherwise it can remain on its mother rhizome where it can still draw energy. The “back bulbs” have lost their umph. You want the younger roots to be given the opportunity to grow without having to drag along old, tired roots.

Before you plant cut the leaves in the shape of a fan or your hand about 6″ long. Distance plants about 3″ apart as you plant so you keep plenty of air circulation around the leaves and prevent funguses. For a quick thicker patch, plant 3 irises in a triangle shape with rhizomes angled outward. Split and spread out iris plants every 3-5 years.

Share Natures Wealth

So if you want to be the most popular person in the area. Split your iris and give a fan shaped chunk to your neighbors. In a few years you will see dashes of colors as you walk by their houses in early May.

* Special thanks to Nick Taneyhill of Garden keepers Ltd. for his expertise. Nick spent years in Sonoma Valley working at Russian River Rose Company taking care of 300 iris species and hundreds of rose types.

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.