Many flower gardens are described as being “all colours of the rainbow.” But the commonly known Bearded Iris is the ultra-hardy, perennial classic and includes all the colours of the rainbow (and then some) single-handedly. From pure white to near black, including yellow, pink, orange, and every shade of blue and purple, burgundy, brown, copper, deep red and literally thousands of combinations and blends, bearded irises come in every conceivable hue except green and bright red.

History of the Bearded Iris

Not surprisingly, the Greek name iris means rainbow. And as a rainbow is bowed, iris also means “to bend or turn.” This is what three of its six petals (called falls) do. The other three(called standards) remain upright. Perhaps unique in the flower world, this bending, turning or falling happens not gradually but with a snap. To see an iris petal suddenly bend down, then quiver for a few seconds in its newborn glory is one of those intangible gifts of gardening. For a few moments, this tiny event makes everything else seem unimportant. Since there’s no way of predicting the exact moment of falling, you have to be either very lucky or very patient to actually see it happen.

Native to the Mediterranean, the Near East and Southern Europе, for untold ages. We know one of the Egyptian pharaohs brought some back from a trip to Syria before 1450 BC. We also know the three-pronged fleur-de-lis of Quebec (and long before that, of France) was not originally a lily – but an iris – probably a bearded type. The story is that Clovis, King of the Franks in the Fifth Century, promised his wife he’d convert to Christianity if he won a certain battle. He won the battle, kept his word and changed the three toads on his banner to three irises. This not only commemorated the growth of wild irises on that battlefield but also symbolized the Christian Trinity. Six hundred years later, in the Crusade of 1147, King Louis VII of France

Different types of bearded iris

Serious collectors may get into the intricacies of bearded iris classification, bandying about such terms as miniature dwarf, standard dwarf, median, border and miniature tall. But for ordinary iris lovers, the three main types -dwarf, intermediate and tall are plenty. Dwarf bearded irises (Iris x pumilahybrids, Zone 2) start the blooming season in April. Anywhere from 12-38cm (5-15″) in height, these cheerful little gems come in a variety of bright colours (those with contrasting beards are especially perky). They’re especially valued in northern gardens and in windy areas where taller flowers tend to get blown over. Despite their small size and early bloom, these rugged dwarfs are almost indestructible. They’re also surprisingly vigorous, needing to be lifted and divided every other year. These stylized irises were known as fleur-de-Louis(flower of Louis), which overtime became fleur-de-lis. Most have little or no scent, but on the plus side, they’re rarely bothered by insects or disease. Intermediate or median bearded iris(hybrids, most Zone 3) are just that. They’re between dwarf and tall types in height, bloom size, degree of fragrance and blooming time. Their size -38-68cm (15-27″) tall -makes them versatile performers anywhere from edging to the front of borders to mixed plantings, where their bloom time coincides with that of many other late spring flowers and bulbs.

Bearded iris flowering time

When established, many bearded iris have a tendency to re-bloom in late summer, extending their season even further. A multitude of colours is available. Also vigorous, these need dividing every two to three years. Tall bearded irises (Iris x germanica hybrids, Zone 3) may be anywhere from 68-100cm (27-30″) in height or more, but most are around 90-95cm(35-37″) tall. This popular form includes the largest flowers, most heady perfumes, fanciest ruffles and most unusual markings of all. It also includes by far the largest selection of colours and colour combinations, with over 20,000 named varieties listed in just the last 50 years. This makes it almost impossible to pick favorites, but you can’t lose – even mislabeled, they’re all winners. The designated blooming time for tall bearded irises is late May through June. However, early, midseason and late varieties can extend this season from mid-May through mid-July. In addition, many have a tendency to re-bloom in early fall or sporadically throughout the summer.

They vary in vigor, but most need dividing every three years. The foliage of bearded irises deserves special mention. Given the relatively short blooming period of each clump, it’s almost more important visually than the flowers. Fortunately, all types of bearded irises are blessed with long, stiff, sword-shaped leaves that provide a handsome vertical element in the garden from early spring to late fall. This upright foliage practically begs to be used as edging a long walks or walls, but also looks good in mixed beds or as stand-alone clumps. The variegated-leaf varieties Irispallida ‘Variegata’ and I. ‘AureaVariegata’ are grown more for their striking foliage than their pleasant but unremarkable blue-purple flowers.

Maintenance of Bearded Iris

Tall bearded irises are often found blooming away in long-abandoned farmsteads – testimony to their vigour, longevity, drought tolerance, deer resistance and general self-reliance. Only a few conditions are essential. Although many kinds of irises are water lovers, bearded irises like to be on the dry side. Remembering that all bearded types are native to Mediterranean climates, their two most important needs are good drainage and sun, minimum of six hours daily, throughout the growing season. Soil texture is not so critical as long as the drainage is excellent, but sandy loams supply the ideal balance between richness and dryness. A neutral pH (7.0) is preferred, so gardeners on the rainy, lime-leaching West Coast should add a dusting of dolomite lime every spring.

Best fertilizer for your bearded iris

Bulk fertilizers, such as compost or aged manure, are welcome when dug into the soil before planting, but don’t use them as mulch or top-dressing. The fleshy rhizomes (which should be visible on the soil surface) will rot if covered or kept too moist. Established clumps can be fed with a dry mixture of bone meal and kelp meal fertilizer with just a touch of blood meal. Go easy on the nitrogen, which can give you rank leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Iris rhizomes – the knobby, horizontal fleshy roots that resemble ginger -are available bare-root (without soil or pots) from mid-July to mid-September.

When to plant bearded iris

This is also the time to lift and divide overcrowded clumps, discarding the exhausted centers and replanting vigorous side growth. Earlier planting is recommended in colder climates. On the Coast, later plantings are the norm.

When planting, dig a hole deер enough to accommodate the true roots. Make a mound of earth in the hole and spread the roots evenly over it, positioning the rhizome so its top surface is just showing above the soil. Growth will come from the end of the rhizome with leaves on it, so point it in the direction you want it to grow. Don’t be alarmed if either the leaves or the true roots are shriveled. As long as there are firm little white nubs (the source of new roots) on the bottom of the rhizome, all is well. Water the new plantings for two to three weeks, or until firmly rooted, making sure to re- position any rhizomes dislodged by the water. Established clumps will not need (or appreciate) irrigation except in severe droughts.

When can i mulch my Bearded Iris?

Mulching is not recommended on the Coast, but first-year plantings in cold climates should be covered with dry straw for winter (remove in spring).Unless lifting and dividing your clumps, do not cut down the foliage in fall, even if it looks a bit tired. The leaves feed the rhizome and store up strength for next year’s blooms. Divisions for replanting, though, should have their leaves cut down by two-thirds to prevent excessive water loss and wind-rocking.

Pests and diseases found in bearded iris

Bearded irises are usually very healthy, but the iris borer (a large worm) can become a serious pest. It can be dispatched in the growing season by probing the tell tale hole with a piece of wire. Divisions from infested clumps should be soaked in a strong bleach solution before replanting. Leaf spots, most common in rainy climates, can be prevented by diligently cleaning up dead leaves and any other debris at the soil surface. Spraying with wettable Sulphur before fall rains is another good idea on the Coast. In resistant cases, spraying with fixed copper in October and February should do the trick. In windy areas, the stalks of taller varieties may be blown over under the weight of full bloom. Bamboo stakes will prevent this catastrophe, but be careful not to pierce the rhizome, as this may cause rot. Although bearded irises are often available in bloom, the best selection (often in collections) is usually bare root. Look for them at your favorite garden center

Article By C. Hall : Garden’s West