Low Maintenance Spring Beauty: Bearded Iris

Add various bearded iris to your garden for a long season of bloom.

These low maintenance spring bloomers come in a variety of sizes and colors. The miniature dwarf varieties are the first to flower. As the spring progresses, so does the blooming sequence. The standard dwarf bearded iris is next to flower, followed by the intermediate and finally the tall bearded iris. Repeat blooming iris will rest and then put on another flower show in late summer or fall.

But don’t limit yourself to these. The early blooming netted iris and summer blooming Louisiana and Japanese iris are just a few of the other irises that can extend your enjoyment throughout the spring and summer.

Grow bearded iris in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant so the iris rhizome, that thick underground stem, is just below the soil surface. Planting too deep can result in root rot and poor flowering.

A bit more information: For more information on these and other irises click here. And, if you are doing battle with iris borer, I have some eco-friendly solutions for managing this pest – click here to listen.