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Bearded Iris
| Bearded
Iris |
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bearded iris is a hardy perennial that requires little maintenance.
The flowers of a bearded iris have six petals; three upright,
called standards, and three hanging, called falls. The flower
gets its name from the falls, which have a fuzzy line, or beard,
that runs down the middle of each. The blooms of a bearded iris
come in many colors, including white, yellow, pink, blue, purple
and bi-colors. |
Most
bearded iris bloom in the spring, but some of the newer cultivars
will re-flower in the summer and fall. This second flowering
is not as showy as the spring bloom. There are several thousands
of bearded iris cultivars, and they come in many different
sizes. There are dwarf, intermediate, border, and tall bearded
iris, to name a few of the more standard sizes.
Bearded
iris, like all other iris, has a thick fleshy root called
a rhizome. The rhizome is where most of the nutrients are
stored. The rhizomes of a bearded iris will grow best when
planted near the surface of the soil. Keeping the rhizomes
firm and healthy is an integral part of the success of the
plant. Providing good drainage, with moist soil deeper down
will result in a more robust rhizome and a healthier plant.
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bearded iris prefers full sun exposure to thrive, but some
colors hold better in partial shade. Too much shade will prevent
flowering, or greatly reduce the bloom length. Bearded iris
should always be planted in late summer through early fall.
This will allow them to establish themselves before winter.
Fertilizer should be applied around, but not directly on,
the rhizome.
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