Iris

In Greek mythology, Iris was the personal messenger of Hera and Zeus, queen and king of the gods. She is said to have traveled along the rainbow to carry messages from the gods to mortals. According to legend, the soles of her feet picked up rainbow pieces and whenever she walked on earth, her footprints bore flowers in as many colors as the rainbow.

Plant Highlights

• Colors: yellow, orange, shades of purple, pastels, white
  
• Height: 1 - 3 ft; Width: 1 - 2 ft
  
• Bloom Period: mid-spring / early summer
  
• Exposure: full sun
  
• Pests: slugs and snails and some sucking insects such as aphids and white flies
  
• Soil: tolerant yet will thrive best in well drained, slightly acidic soils
  
• Comments: staking may be necessary for some of the taller bearded iris; good drainage is a must

Two cautions to keep in mind with these beauties ... resist the urge to plant them too deeply and resist the urge to overwater them ... and they will provide you with many years of gorgeous bloom.

Plants should be provided with good drainage. The bulbs (rhizomes) may rot if they sit in water for more than a couple of days.

Established plants rarely need watering except during prolonged dry spells or if you live in a dry, arid climate; at such times, deep, infrequent watering is best rather than frequent more shallow waterings.

If you live in a very windy area, you may need to provide some type of garden plant support to keep these beauties standing tall and strong all season long.

Keep weeds and grass tufts out of the rhizome clumps. Remove old (dead) leaves and other debris from around the base of the plant. You want the rhizomes to be able to receive a good portion of sunlight during the day. Also, with this in mind, remember to avoid covering the rhizomes with mulch.

Old bloom stalks should be broken off at ground level. Any healthy, green foliage should NOT be cut off. The foliage should be left on the rhizomes to aid development of the new sprouts for the next season.

For more detailed information on these flowers, check out the American Iris Society website.

What do you need to know when planting these bulbs/rhizomes?
How do you keep these flowers from blowing over in strong winds?
Do any of these plants have fragrant flowers?
How do you divide and transplant these flowers?
See pictures of these beautiful plants.

Tulips | Groundcover | Hosta | Daylilies | Ornamental Grasses

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