Iris (Fall-Planted)

Huge online selection of iris roots and rhizomes

Irises are a favorite in the garden for good reason. These fall-planted bulbs produce the most elaborate, fragrant flowers that tower among other plants. Aptly named for their rainbow of colors, fall-planted iris bulbs are a bit of an investment at first—but with an invaluable reward season after season. These easy-to-grow perennial flowers will happily steal your heart and never disappoint.

Eden Brothers carries two types of fall-planted irises—bearded and Siberian. Bearded and Siberian irises grow a little differently, but both are striking bloomers all the same.

Autumn is the best season for planting iris roots, as the plant is dormant during this time. To plant bearded iris roots in the fall, choose a site that gets full sun and has a pH of slightly acidic to neutral. Be sure that soil drains well, and add compost to improve drainage—irises don’t like standing water.

How to plant iris roots and rhizomes for beautiful blooms 

Bearded irises are a little particular in how they like to be planted—dig a hole about 10 inches wide and 4 inches deep. Build a small mound in the center of the hole and place the iris rhizome on it, so that it is slightly elevated above the roots. Fill in the hole so that the roots are buried in the dirt but the rhizome is slightly exposed. Dig another hole for another root (or clump) about two feet away so that the plants have room to spread.

Irises that bloom twice!

Reblooming bearded irises will bloom twice—in the spring and again in the fall. After the second blooming, cut the plants back to about six inches.

Siberian irises grow much the same way as bearded irises, but their rhizomes prefer to be fully buried in the ground. To plant Siberian irises in the fall, choose a sunny site that drains well and dig a hole three to five inches deep. Bury the rhizome an inch under the soil where the roots meet the sprouts. Plant other clumps or single rhizomes at least two feet away. Siberian iris benefit from organic mulch to keep their roots protected from dry, hot conditions. Cut Siberian irises back in the fall.

Companion plants for fall-planted irises

Fall-planted irises make great companion plants with tulips and narcissus, pansy, papaver orientale, peonies, allium, columbine, and salvia, among other flowers. Choose from a wide range of colors from Eden Brothers’ 23 varieties of fall-planted iris roots. For more information about planting, growing, and harvesting fall-planted iris roots, see the Iris Flower Planting Guide.