Iris × hybrida
bearded iris
Hybrid of garden origin; parents from Europe and the Mediterranean
Overview
Iris x hybrida is a rhizomatous perennial grown for its flowers, forming clumps of upright, sword-shaped leaves 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) long and flower stalks 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall depending on the type. The gray-green leaves rise in flat fans from thick rhizomes that sit at or just below the soil surface. Each flower is 3-6 inches (8-15 cm) across with three upright petals, called standards, and three drooping petals, called falls; a strip of fuzzy hairs, the beard, runs along each fall. Flower color spans white, yellow, blue, purple, pink, brown, and bicolor combinations across thousands of cultivars. Bloom comes mainly in mid- to late spring, with some types reblooming in fall. Leaves persist after bloom and may brown at the tips in summer. Crowded rhizomes flower less over time and need dividing. Rhizome rot and iris borer are the main problems in wet or poorly drained soil.
Native Range
A hybrid group of garden origin not found in the wild. The parent species, including Iris pallida and Iris variegata, are native to central and southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, where they grow on dry, rocky, sunny slopes.Suggested Uses
Used in perennial borders, cottage gardens, and mass plantings, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart with rhizomes pointing outward. Suited to dry, sunny slopes and the front of mixed beds. The short main bloom and summer-worn foliage are trade-offs in year-round display.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowers open mainly from April through June, with timing shifting earlier in warm regions and later in cold ones. Each stalk blooms over 1-2 weeks, and a clump may flower for 2-3 weeks as successive stalks open. Some reblooming cultivars produce a second flush in late summer or fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White, yellow, blue, purple, pink, brown, or bicolorFoliage Description
Gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun in well-drained, neutral soil with the top of the rhizome exposed or barely covered; deep planting and shade reduce flowering. Water during active growth and bloom, then less in summer dormancy, since constantly wet soil causes rhizome rot. Cut off flower stalks at the base after bloom. Iris borer larvae tunnel into rhizomes and open the way for bacterial soft rot, mainly in the eastern range. Divide clumps every 3-4 years in mid- to late summer when flowering drops. Excess nitrogen promotes rot, so heavy feeding is not needed.Pruning
Cut spent flower stalks to the base after bloom. Trim away dead or diseased leaves, but leave healthy foliage to feed the rhizome until it browns naturally in fall. When dividing, cut leaves back to a 6-8 inch (15-20 cm) fan to reduce water loss.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons