Iris Bulbs
Iris bulbs provide a gorgeous sculptural element to any landscape. They grow from a large underground stem, making them very easy to divide and pass along. Irises are perennial and go dormant in early winter. Once dormant, be sure to cut the leaves of your Iris completely to the ground and clean away any garden debris in your iris beds.
When to plant Irises:
In Central Texas, Fall (September & October) is the best time to plant irises. The roots need time to establish for at least 4-6 weeks before the first hard freeze. In Austin, the first hard freeze averages around December 15th, with the last freeze averaging around March 15th.
How to get Irises to bloom:
Overcrowding can impede bloom performance. September & October are the optimal months to divide and fertilize the bulbs with a high phosphate, organic, granular product. Fertilize again in February & May. Cut off any rotten rhizomes when dividing.
Bearded irises want at least six hours of sun, preferably in morning and early afternoon. They will grow in shade, but blooms will be sparse and in some cases they may not bloom at all.
Well-draining soil is important. These plants grow from succulent, underground stems called rhizomes, which will rot if the soil stays too wet. Irrigate deeply but infrequently, especially in summer.
When planting, place the rhizome very close to the top of the soil. Space them anywhere from eight to twelve inches apart. They may look beautiful when planted close together, but without proper spacing, they will become overcrowded and need to be dug and divided.
Types Of Bearded Irises
Below we will go into detail about our Iris varieties and what you can expect from them when planting!
Clarence
This variety has won multiple awards from the American Iris Society for both vigor and looks! White standards (upper petals) stand tall over two-tone cream and blue-purple falls (lower petals). A delicate cream beard finishes the stately look.
- Fragrant
- Hardy in zones 3-10, reliable late summer and fall rebloomer in zones 4-10
- Prefers Full Sun & Well-Drained Soil
- 32-36 inches tall
- Deer & Drought Resistant
Concertina
This iris is a symphony of color in the spring garden! Petals and falls are predominantly a soft pink, but have bright blue and orange tipped up beards. The flowers are a unique shape with somewhat flat falls, providing a platform to showcase the ruffled, almost double-looking standard petals. Concertina is a bit on the shorter side, but its unique and striking color scheme more than makes up for the petite size.
- Fragrant
- 22-30 inches tall
- Hardy in zones 3-10, reliable late summer and fall rebloomer in zones 5-10
- Baby pink petals with blue and orange beard
- Deer- and rabbit-resistant
- Full sun to light shade
Dashing
The amethyst purple flowers of this variety burst into bloom every spring, heralding the return of color to the garden! The large, billowy, ruffled blooms are sweetly fragrant and attractive to butterflies.
- Fragrant
- 32-36 inches tall
- Deer- and rabbit-resistant
- Hardy in zones 3-10, reliable late summer and fall rebloomer
- Full sun to light shade
Victoria Falls
This Iris is a stately stunner with violet blue flowers on tall, almost 40 inch, stems in the spring. They re-bloom again in the fall in areas as cold as zone 4. Reliable performance and beautiful color make this award-winner a sure bet for every garden, from freezing cold northern climates to the steamy south.
- Fragrant
- 36-48 inches tall
- Hardy in zones 3-10, reliable late summer and fall rebloomer in zones 4-10
- Violet blue flowers, white beard
- Deer- and rabbit-resistant
- Full sun to light shade