Growing Guide
 
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Iris, Bearded (medium height)

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Also known as German Iris
Iris sp. Intermediate Bearded cultivars
Iridaceae Family

Ranging from 1.5 to 2 feet tall, these Bearded Iris varieties are perfect for adding color to the middle of garden borders.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
  • part shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers well-drained, fertile soil.

Hardiness zones:

  • 3 to 9
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1.5 to 2 feet

Spread: 0.25 to 0.5 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-spring
  • late spring

Flower color:

  • red
  • orange
  • yellow
  • green
  • blue
  • violet
  • white
  • pink

Blooms may be single colors or multicolored, with various markings and mixtures of color.

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape:

  • upright
  • fan-shaped

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Product of horticultural selection
Special uses:
  • cut flowers
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Divide in midsummer. Replant only rhizomes that appear strong and healthy, discard others. Cut the healthy rhizomes into pieces with one foliage fan each, cutting the foliage back to only 6� in height. Allow the cut rhizomes to cure overnight, then replant them in well-worked soil.

Maintenance and care:
Plant the rhizomes with their tops beneath the soil surface. Fertilize with low-nitrogen fertilizer when planting, and refertilize with low-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring. Mulch lightly in the spring.

Divide when the clumps become overcrowded. May require staking. Keep moist but not soggy while blooming, then keep the soil very dry after flowering has finished and the foliage has faded. Remove faded foliage and blooms to prevent disease.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials

Pests:
Iris borer
Verbena bud moth
Whiteflies
Iris weevil
Thrips
Slugs and snails
Aphids
Nematodes

Diseases:
Nematodes
Bacterial leaf blight
Bacterial soft rot
Crown rot
Rhizome rot
Leaf spot

Varieties
�Ask Alma�: 2� tall plants with rosy coral blooms with white beards tipped in orange.

�Blue Eyed Blonde�: 2� tall plants with yellow blooms with pale purple beards tipped with blue.

�Butter Pecan�: 2� tall plants with yellow-bearded blooms with yellow-flushed brown standards and brown-margined yellow falls.

�Cee Jay�: 2� tall, early-blooming plants with purple beards and white blooms with purple margins.

�Golden Muffin�: 2� tall plants with yellow standards, yellow-edged, honey-colored falls and yellow beards.

�Helga�s Hat�: 2� tall plants with ruffled white blooms, the falls marked with yellow hafts.

�Hellcat�: 1 �� tall plants with pale blue-purple standards with darker midribs, and deep purple-blue falls and beards.

�Honey Glazed�: 2� tall plants with gold-bearded blooms with cream standards and honey-colored falls.

�Hot Fudge�: 2� tall plants with gold flushed rich brown standards, brown margined gold falls, and yellow beards with blue tips.

�Hot Spice�: 2� tall plants with rich brown standards, white-centered yellow falls with brown margins, and brown beards.

�Lemon Pop�: 1 �� tall plants with pale yellow blooms and white beards with yellow tips.

�Marmalade Skies�: 2� tall plants with orange standards, tan-splotched dark orange falls and bright orange beards.

�Maui Moonlight�: 2� tall plants with pale yellow blooms.

�Rare Edition�:   2� tall, early-blooming plants with white speckled, rich violet standards, purple edged white falls, and pale blue beards.

�Red Zinger�: 2� tall plants with gold bearded wine-colored blooms, the falls a darker wine color with dark wine centers.