How to Plant, Grow and Propagate Iris for gorgeous blooms for years to come. A great beginner plant for garden newbies.
I want to share with you how to plant, grow and propagate Iris. Why? Because Iris blooming is such a great intro to a new garden season. They are easy to grow in most zones and they reward you year after year with more rhizomes that you can divide and share.
How to Grow Iris
Iris are easy to grow and I have tons of blooms to prove it. First you need to plant your Iris rhizomes. Most Iris gardens or farms ship out their Iris in late August, early September. That is the optimum time to plant in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere.
Here is how I plant my Iris when they arrive. (click on the text link or photo to go to post)
How to Plant Iris
Once established Iris can reproduce quite rapidly. If you notice they are not blooming as well as they have in the past the problem could be they have gotten overcrowded.
That means it is time to separate them and replant.
Sometimes I am so busy at the time that is optimum to divide my Iris that I have to do it later. Much later. Like Spring when things are still a little bare and I can really see the base of my Iris plants.
If you notice your Iris are crowded in the Spring, it isn’t too late, you can still divide them and get blooms.
If you haven’t grown Iris before I would encourage you to give them a try. Every color under the rainbow is available if you like sticking to a color scheme in your garden. I have mine intermingled throughout my garden while many other gardeners like to dedicate areas to the Iris.
There are early, mid and late blooming Iris so if you mix it up when you purchase you can get weeks of bloom. Many have mentioned they don’t like the short blooming season of Iris but for me it is perfect. By the time they are done so many other plants are putting on a show you are content.
Some iris actually do re-bloom in the Fall, it is less of a bloom than in Spring but still just as lovely. Look for that trait if it is important to you.
So there you have it, How to Plant and Propagate Iris. For a look at some of my visits to Iris Gardens and Farms click on the links below.
Superstition Iris Gardens 2017
Superstition Iris Gardens 2016
Iris Farm Visit
To see many of my Iris posts just type in Iris or Garden Tour in the search box located in my side bar.
Happy Gardening!
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Nancy Humphreys says
Great info, Pamela! I am new to iris but am quickly catching the bug to add more to my garden!
Pamela says
Fair warning, Nancy. They are addicting but wonderful.
Patti says
Hi Pamela,
So many of my iris didn’t make it over the winter. The only ones left are the light purple ones that have been around forever. I suspect it was do to rot but who knows. Thanks for reminding me that about the re-bloomers. I’m going to put them on my list for this years plant shopping.
Pamela says
Even the growers had a hard time this winter, they had to dig big trenches next to the Iris beds to keep them drained enough. Thankfully, I live on a hill and the water ran off from mine but my friend who lives on a flat area lost a lot of hers. It was just a bad winter for them because of the excess precipitation in Calif. I have a couple reblooming ones and it is always a delight to get a Iris in Fall. They don’t put out as many but it is still great to get some.
Sydney Jean Andrews says
Love the article, but love the new photo even more. You have such a pretty smile, it makes me happy to see your shining face.
Pamela says
Oh thank you! It is one of the better ones I have taken lately. 🙂