Iris

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Common Name

Iris

Scientific Name

Iris

Plant Category

Perennial

Location

North Carolina regions, Eastern USA

Height

8-38 inches

Width

4-10  inches

Blooming Season

Spring

Plant Habit

Clumped distribution or linear growth; fast growing

Color

Blues and purples, whites and yellows, pinks and oranges, browns and reds, blacks

Sun

Partial shade to full sun

Soil

Well-drained light soil, clay soil

Water

Moderate

Plant Characteristics

Generally disease & drought resistant. Characteristic feature is having three petals often called the "standards", and three outer petal-like sepals called the "falls".

Usage

Serve as ornamental plants in gardens. Has medicinal and perfumery uses. Can be used for rock gardens, ground cover, borders, wetlands, ponds, and streams. Great as cut flowers.

Information

Irises are wonderful garden plants. They take their name from the Greek word which means rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species. They come in shades of blues and purples, whites and yellows, pinks and oranges, browns and reds, and even blacks. Irises are classified into two major groups: rhizome irises and bulbous irises. Rhizome irises are thickened stems that grow horizontally, either underground or partially underground. Bulbous irises grow from bulbs that require a period of dormancy after they have bloomed. Their habitats are considerably varied. Some grow in deserts, some in swamps, some in the cold far north, and many in temperate climates.

Growing Tips

Light soil works best for irises. They will benefit from bone meal and a good garden fertilizer which is low in nitrogen. As flowers fade, cut back the flower stalks to the base of the plant. To encourage a second bloom on re-blooming varieties, promptly remove faded flowers and maintain consistent watering throughout the summer to encourage a second bloom on certain varieties. Trim away dead foliage and prune back healthy leaves to a height of 4 to 5 inches in autumn. Once the soil has frozen, apply a layer of mulch to help prevent roots from heaving out of the soil during alternate freezing and thawing.

Common Problems

Planting in excessive shade and the use of too much fertilizer can lead to poor flowering. Other factors include the crowding of plants and planting the rhizomes too deep. Bacterial soft rot is the most serious iris disease. This disease causes the rhizomes to become mushy and have a disagreeable odor. Remove any yellowing leaves promptly to help prevent spread of the disease. The most common disease is the Iris leaf spot, caused by a fungus. Remove all leaf and other debris in fall, since diseases and insects often overwinter on old foliage.