Iris Flower: Plant Care and Growth

Do you know that the tall, beautiful iris flower is named after the Greek goddess who rose rainbows, and comes in a number of magical colors?

Despite its divine origin, this stunning flower is rigged, reliable, and easy to grow.

Moreover, there are more than 250 species that make up the genus iris.

The most famous irises are tall bearded Iris germanica which reach 2 to 3 feet in height.

Their differentiating six-petaled flowers tend to have three outer hanging petals or fall and three inner upright petals or standards.

These can be bearded or crested type while bearded irises are called so as they have soft hairs along the center of their falls.

However, the hairs on the crested types like the Siberian iris tend to form a comb or ridged instead.

Keep on reading about Iris Flower.

Iris Flower

The iris flower tends to have 300 varieties in the Iris genus.

These famous and popular flowers are available in two main forms, they grow from rhizomes and those that grow from bulbs.

Moreover, they tend to feature unique blooms that are made up of two different kinds of petals, falls, and standards.

The falls tend to form the lower petals that droop downward or fall.

While the standards are the upper three petals of the flower.

The characteristics of an iris petal further segment the plant into three types. These types are:

• bearded
• created
• beardless

Bearded iris plants tend to have soft hairs along their fall, which resemble a beard.

The flowers of the crested iris have a ridged-like crest on their falls.

However, beardless neither have hairs nor crests.

It is important to note that irises that grow from bulbs include Iris reticulata, Spanish, Iris Xiphium, and Dutch varieties, Iris x hollandica.

These tend to bloom earlier than the rhizome’s irises.

However, most iris flowers are famous flowers in the early summer, while some also bloom for a second time in the late summer.

They are also popular for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds and make perfect for cut flowers.

The iris varies greatly in size, from the smallest dwarf variety, which only grows to 6 inches tall, to the tallest variety which is up to 4 feet tall.

Quick Facts about Iris Flower

Some quick facts about iris flower are:

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Iris Flower Care

Different species of iris will need slightly different methods of and time for planting.

Bulbous irises which also include Dutch, Spanish and reticulata irises can be planted in the fall in full sun, in well-draining soil.

When planting your bulbs, you will need to loosen the soil, mix in compost, and 1/4 cup of all-purpose granular fertilizer according to the directions in the bag.

Place the bulbs at least 4 to 5 inches deep, depending on the type of bulb.

For bearded iris, place rhizomes horizontally in the soil, thus, leaving the top of it partially exposed.

However, for other varieties, position the crown of the plant 1/2 inch below the soil line.

Once flowers are spent, you will need to deadhead the blooms.

Moreover, when the whole stalk of the flower is spent, cut the stalk to the ground to direct energy to the roots, instead of forming seed heads.

Once the first heavy frost comes, or your leaves turn yellow, you can cut the foliage to the ground,

This will help to prevent iris bores from overwintering in the leaves.

However, do not be tempted to remove the foliage before then, as the greenery is still performing photosynthesis.

This will provide the plant energy with the necessary energy for the blooms next year.

Once you trim back the foliage for the winter, make sure to cover the rhizomes with something to help protect them such as sand or mulch.

Remove this cover in spring.

It is important to note that irises are a great choice for areas with wildlife as they tend to be deer resistant.

Common pests include iris borers.

Light and Soil Requirements

It is important to note that most iris varieties will thrive best in full sun.

However, some varieties can tolerate partial shade, but too much shade can prevent them from flowering.

For iris plants, rich, and well-draining soil is best for their growth.

Though they like to thrive in moist soil, too much water can damage the plant.

If you are worried about too much standing water, try planting them in raised beds, as this will allow for optimal water drainage.

Moreover, Japanese and Louisiana irises can tolerate moist soil and are great for areas near ponds.

While Siberian irises tend to prefer acidic moist soil.

Water, Temperature, and other requirements

As the iris flower tends to thrive in both moisture and well-draining soil water your plant consistently and deeply,

Just make sure not to overwater your plants as too much water in the soil can cause problems like root rot.

Though this plant appreciates consistent water, most iris varieties are drought resistant and will not die quickly if you deprive them of water for a short time.

With its wide range of varieties and growing zones, the iris plant is a hardy plant that can also tolerate changes in temperature and humidity.

As long as the soil is well-draining, and they well enough water and sunshine, these flowers tend to thrive in a large variety of gardens.

Moreover, Siberian, Bearded, and Japanese irises often are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.

While iris reticulata and Dutch iris are hardy in zones 5 to 9, Louisiana iris thrives in zones 6 to 9.

As this plant prefers rich soil, compost tends to make a perfect amendment.

Loosening the soil in the spring and adding a healthy layer of compost tend to help and give your plants the nutrients they will need to grow healthy and lush.

If you, however, do not have compost, a well-balanced fertilizer for flowers will work well.

Just beware of too much nitrogen which can lead to rot.

This is because some varieties tend to bloom twice, once early in the season and later in the season, these varieties will appreciate another dose of fertilizer before their second bloom.

Iris Varieties

Some popular iris flower varieties are:

Yellow Iris: This variety is also known as the flag, and this one is the bearded iris.

Moreover, it is highly tolerant of moisture and is an abundant spreader, which in some cases, can deter you from planting it.

However, it makes a great container flower variety and tends to produce beautiful blooms and bright green foliage.

Louisiana Isis: This one is native to the U.S. and hardy to zone 6 to 9.

Moreover, they boast a wide variety of colors and petals that are reminiscent of lilies.

Japanese Iris: The Japanese iris tends to boast large, beard petals and a beautiful array of colors.

This variety tends to do well with increased soil moisture, thus, making it a perfect choice in areas with high water tables or a greater chance of standing water.

Siberian Iris: The Siberian iris tends to provide smaller, more delicate-looking blooms than many other species.

Moreover, they tend to add a beautiful pop of color in the late spring.

Propagation Tips and Techniques

It is important to note that irises tend to spread underground through rhizomes or bulbs and you will need to divide them every 3 to 5 years.

This will help create the perfect opportunity to spread your plant to new landscaping areas.

Moreover, you will know when it is time to divide your plant when you have fewer blooms or there are rhizomes popping out of the ground.

Follow the basic steps below to propagate iris plants:

• wait for at least 6 to 8 weeks after your plant has finished blooming
• then with the help of a garden fork or shovel, slowly work around each plant to lose the rhizomes or bulbs
• gently lift the plant out of the ground and shake out the dirt
• after removing the dirt, you will be able to see the rhizomes or bulbs
• you will also find smaller rhizomes spreading from the larger mother rhizome
• some may be coming naturally, while others will need to be cut
• either way, divide these smaller ones and toss any old, shriveled rhizomes
• after you divide the rhizomes and remove any that are spent or diseases, simply plant the divided iris in a new spot

Pests and Plant Diseases

The pest that can affect your iris flower is aphids.

Signs of infestation include misshapen or yellow flowers, leaf drops, sticky, ‘honeydew’ on leaves, sooty, and black mold.

You can treat them with water spray, apply insecticidal soap, and inspect new plants carefully.

Moreover, you can use slow-release fertilizer and avoid excess nitrogen, and encourage lacewings, lady beetles, bugs, or spiders to get rid of aphids.

Other pests include:

• iris borers
• iris weevils
• whiteflies
• nematodes
• thrips
• slugs and snails

Bacterial soft rot of the iris is a common plant disease and its symptoms include:

• dieback starts at the tips
• leaves will become yellow, wilted, or separate from the base
• rhizomes will rot
• foul odor from the plant
• eventually, the plant will die

To treat this disease, you will need to cut disease rhizomes tissue, or air-dry cut surfaces for 1 to 2 days before replanting.

However, in case of severe infection, destroy the plant, and surrounding soil, remove plant debris regularly, and disinfect the tools.

Make sure there is good air circulation, prevent any plant injury, and control iris borers, and plant rhizomes at the proper depth.

It is important to note the blight, both white mold, and black mold can affect your plant, and you will need to destroy the plant, white fungus mats, and surrounding soil to at least 6 inches beyond the plant and 8 inches deep.

Other plant diseases include bacterial leaf spots fungal leaf spots, ink spots, root knots, viruses, etc.