Iris, bearded

Although bearded irises are not native, they are fabulously adapted to our climate and soils. In fact, there’s virtually nowhere in the nation where irises don’t perform well. The large, dense flowers in spring are simply beautiful, and remind me of my grandmother, who had lots of bearded irises in her garden. Also known as German irises, bearded irises are usually taller than other irises. Since they’re clumping, they do tend to spread a bit, but if they outgrow their space, just divide them and they’ll look and perform much better.

Irises thrive in virtually all conditions, from heavy soil to loose sand. But rocky soil isn’t the best, and if you have heavy clay, be careful not to overwater, which can rot the rhizomes.

They do want sun but can accept some shade, too.

Divide every 3-4 years to improve blooming performance and to share with friends!

When not blooming, their spiky leaves add wonderful structure to our gardens. They require little water and care, so add them to your drought-tough, low-maintenance plant list!