Iris Roots

Plant iris and watch the beauty grow in your garden this year! This perennial will bring joy that you can depend on year after year. Our iris collection is composed of Bearded, Siberian, and Dutch Iris varieties and mixes. These irises come in a variety of stunning colors that include red, purple, white, lavender, and more. Some of our most popular varieties include Discovery Dutch Iris, Reblooming Bearded Iris Bernice's Legacy, and Concord Crush, a Siberian Iris variety. With 50 varieties to choose from, you cannot go wrong when you bring your garden the perennial color that irises provide.

• 98 various iris bulb varieties
• Perennial favorite for adding color to landscapes
• Blooms in spring/early summer with Reblooming Bearded Iris blooming again in the fall
• Easy to grow and drought, deer, and rabbit resistant

Irises are an incredibly popular perennial known for their iconic shape and characteristically showy flowers. The name comes from the Greek name for the goddess of the rainbow, indicating just how varied the colors are in the species. Not only are the endless colors stunning, but they also have striking, architectural, sword-like leaves that grace the garden before and after the blooms are present. Irises are easy to cultivate and grow well in almost any well-draining garden soil, and thus have become a favorite for many gardeners. Believe it or not, there are over 30,000 cultivars, though the majority of which are not commonly found for sale. That said, there are still hundreds to choose from, each with different colors and heights of leaves and stalks. Different irises bloom at various times throughout the season, depending on the variety. Mixing specimens from different groups will prolong your color display by a few extra weeks.

Typically, irises are planted in the late summer. Select a spot in the yard that has plenty of well-draining soil. A pH level of a little less than seven is ideal. If necessary, do a soil test and amend the soil accordingly. Be sure to allow for plenty of space between each rhizome so that they do not become overcrowded. Prepare your garden bed by loosening the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches. Once loose, mix in a two to four inch layer of compost. For each rhizome, dig a shallow hole that is large enough to accommodate the rhizome, or clump of rhizomes. Each hole should be about four inches deep. Form a mound of soil in the center of the hole for the planting base. Place the rhizome on the mound-high enough so that the rhizome is slightly above the soil level. Gently spread the roots down the side of the mound. Fill the hole with soil, press gently, and then water well. Each grouping of irises should be placed about two feet apart.

Once the blooming has ended for the season, cut back the green foliage to about four to six inches. This ensures that the plant will not exert energy trying to maintain leaves throughout the winter. Every three to four years, divide the rhizomes.