Bearded Iris Plant Care

The botanical name of Bearded Iris plant is Iris germanica and the common name is Bearded iris. Actually few flowers can boast the diversity and distribution of the Iris genus, which includes a number of distinct groups, each of the group with unique cultural needs. Although all iris plants share sword-like leaves and flowers with 6 spreading or drooping lobes, there are groups that grow from creeping rhizomes while others groups of the plant grow from bulb structures; some iris plant groups are categorized as "bearded," why others as "beardless," and still others as "crested." The Japanese, Dutch, and the Siberian iris are among those that fall into the beardless category. But the bearded iris plant (Iris germanica) is arguably the most popular iris plant and the plant is among the easiest to grow. From the nursery starts, the bearded iris plant is usually planted in the spring and the plant will flower in its first year. If the plant is planted from bare roots, the plant can be planted in the fall or the spring; the bare root plants may actually not flower robustly until their second year. The bearded iris plants are toxic to cats and dogs.

Bearded Iris Plant Info

The common name: The common name is Bearded iris.

The botanical name: The botanical name is   Iris germanica.

The family: The bearded iris plants belong to Iridaceae family.

The plant type: The bearded iris plants are herbaceous, perennial.

The mature size: The mature size is about twelve to forty inches tall, one to two feet wide.

The sun exposure: The bearded iris plants prefer   full sun.

The soil type: The bearded iris plant does well in average, well-draining soil.

The blooming time: The blooming time is spring.

The flower color: The flower colors are yellow, red, blue, orange, purple, brown, pink, white, many bi-colors.

USDA hardiness zones: three to nine.

The native area: The bearded iris plants are native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Plant toxicity: The bearded iris plants are toxic to dogs and cats.

Bearded Iris varieties

The Bearded Iris has different categories and also subcategories which are; the tall bearded Iris, the intermediate bearded Iris, the short bearded Iris, the miniature bearded Iris, and the border bearded Iris. The main characteristic feature of these subcategories is actually their stature, although they also vary somewhat in bloom time. You need to read the plant labels carefully so you understand what type of iris you are purchasing.

The new named varieties of the bearded iris plants are developed for commercial sale every year, and the ranking of the most popular iris plants, conducted annually by the American Iris Society, changes frequently. If you are looking for iris plant to grow, it is a good idea to actually look for the once that have won well-known awards, such as the Dykes medal. There are a lot of dozens of fine iris plant to choose from; the following are some of the award-winners that are widely grown by most gardeners:

-         The "Abiqua Falls" variety: The "Abiqua Falls" variety is a true blue tall bearded iris that grows to thirty-nine inches.

-         The "Again and Again" Iris variety: The "Again and Again" Iris variety is a yellow re-blooming tall bearded iris growing to thirty-six inches.

-         The America Classic Iris variety: The America Classic Iris variety is a white with blue-violet iris, a tall bearded Iris that grows to thirty-six inches.

-         The "Celebration Song" Iris variety: The "Celebration Song" Iris variety is a pink and lavender tall bearded iris, growing to about thirty-seven inches.

-         The "Beatnick" Iris variety: The "Beatnick" Iris variety is a dwarf bearded iris growing to about fourteen inches. The "Beatnick" Iris has purple flowers with white highlights.

-         The "Big Blue Eyes" Iris variety: The "Big Blue Eyes" Iris variety is a dwarf bearded iris with white and violet flowers. The "Big Blue Eyes" Iris variety grows to about fourteen inches.

-         The "Dusky Challenger" Iris variety: The "Dusky Challenger" Iris variety is a very dark purple iris, growing about thirty-nine inches tall.

-         The "Thornbird" Iris variety: The "Thornbird" Iris variety is a beautiful yellow iris that grows to about thirty-seven inches.

-         The "Queen's Circle" iris variety: The "Queen's Circle" iris variety has white flowers with blue-lavender fringes. This iris grows about thirty-two inches.  

-         "That's All Folks" iris variety: "That's All Folks" iris variety is a towering forty inch yellow-gold iris. Below is the image.

-         The "Jesse's Song" Iris variety: The "Jesse's Song" Iris variety is a thirty-five inch tall violet and white iris. Below is the image.

How to grow Bearded Iris

The Bearded Iris is one of the most popular Iris and is very easy to grow provided they are planted in a sunny site with well-drained soil. A major departure for growing Iris plants compared to other perennial plants is that they do not like mulch. Mulches (as well as deep planting) encourage the plant rhizomes to develop rot, so let your soil remain bare. Space the Iris plants at least twelve inches apart to prevent the need for frequent dividing.

Though Iris plants don’t suffer from many problems, routine lifting and dividing is needed to combat the Iris borer worms and to keep the plants healthy and productive.

Light requirement

Iris plants actually need full sun to thrive. The Iris plants in full shade produce fewer blooms and they may suffer from an increase in diseases.

Soil requirement

Actually heavy clay soils don’t work well for growing Iris plants, but sandy or gravelly soils are excellent for growing Iris plants. If your native soil is actually heavy, you can plant the Bearded Iris in raised beds to help drainage. You can also amend your soil with gypsum or organic matter like compost to lighten the soil.

Water requirement

Although Bearded Iris plants like moisture, the plants also need good drainage to prevent rot problems. Water the plant when the top two inches of the soil feels dry. The Bearded Iris plants have a good tolerance for drought.

Temperature and humidity requirement

The Bearded Iris plants are notorious for their hardy disposition. The plants don't mind temperature extremes, as long as the soil allows excess rain or snowmelt to drain away. The Bearded Iris plants that are damaged by heavy winds or hail can be actually susceptible to iris borer larvae. 

Fertilizer requirement

In the spring you can easily apply a low-nitrogen 6-10-10 fertilizer around your the Bearded Iris plants. Too much nitrogen will actually encourage foliage at the expense of blooms. Bone meal is also a good fertilizer you can apply to the plant.

Pruning Bearded Iris plants

The faded and withered flowers of the plant should be pinched off immediately. This will actually help to promote additional blooms or even a repeat bloom period later in the season.

Every 4 or 5 years, the clumps of the Bearded Iris plants should be dug up, divided, and replanted in order to cull out diseased roots and iris borer damage. This will keep the Bearded Iris plants vigorous and also allow you to propagate the new plants.

How to propagate Bearded Iris

Dividing your Iris plant will not only yields more plants for your garden, but it also keeps your existing Iris plants healthy and vigorous.

 Here is how you can do it:

In late summer just dig up the plant rhizomes with a shovel, and then shake off all loose soil. Any of the flower stalks that are still in place can be easily removed at this time.

Then carefully pull or cut the plant rhizome cluster apart into sections. Make sure each of the section has a fan of foliage; you can easily trim the foliage off at an angle, leaving about three to six inches of leaves intact.

Examine the Iris plant root sections closely, and then use pruners to cut away any soft, rotten parts. Just make sure you cut the roots back past any borer tunnels—you may even encounter living worms, which should be destroyed immediately.

Replant each of the root section, just barely covering the plant rhizome. Space the roots at least twelve inches apart; they will quickly fill in the spaces. Water the plant thoroughly upon planting, and then weekly until frost sets in. The new foliage growth will probably begin in late summer and fall, and the Iris plant will grow vigorously when it returns in the spring.

Divide the Bearded iris plants every 3 to 5 years—or more often if iris borers have infiltrated the Bearded Iris plants. 

Growing Bearded Iris from Seed

The Propagation of Bearded Iris by seed is generally only done by nursery professionals when they are seeking to breed new Iris varieties by careful cross-pollination. But it is certainly possible to grow Bearded Iris plant from the tiny seeds found in the green oval pods left behind after the flowers fade. Just collect the Bearded Iris seeds and then plant them about ¼ -inch deep in the garden, the plant will often sprout and then mature into flowering plants within 3 years.

But be aware that most of the garden Iris plants are hybrids, and the plants propagated from their seeds usually do not "come true." The Bearded Iris plants you actually propagate by collecting the seeds may look quite different from the mother plant.

The propagation of Iris plant is almost always done by dividing the root clumps—a speedier and more reliable method.

Potting and Repotting Iris Plant

Even though it is not a common method, you can grow Bearded Iris plants in pots that are at least twelve inches wide. You can use a loose, soil-free potting mix, and then leave the tops of the plant rhizomes exposed or just barely covered. Make sure not to overwater the Bearded Iris plants.

In colder climates make sure you move the pots to sheltered locations for the winter to ensure the Bearded Iris plants' survival. The Bearded Iris plants in pots may need dividing and transplanting more frequently than the once growing in the ground, about every other year or so. 

Pest and disease control

One of the most serious insect’s pests on Bearded Iris plant is the iris borer. In the spring the caterpillars hatch and tunnel through the plant leaves, reaching the plant rhizome by summer. Feeding tunnels allow the plant rhizome to become infected with bacterial rot, compounding the damage. Remove all the Bearded Iris leaves after frost to remove the caterpillar eggs, as well. Where rhizomes are penetrated by worms you can easily dig them up, cut away the soft, infested portions, and then replant the pieces. This is also a good time to propagate your Bearded Iris plant by division.

The major disease problems of Bearded Iris plants include bacterial soft rot, crown rot fungus, and fungal leaf spot. The mottling of the plant leaves and the flowers suggests the presence of mosaic virus. The affected plant material should be removed immediately and destroyed (not placed in compost). A good hygiene is generally enough to control these diseases; actually fungicides are not needed.

Some of the problems with Bearded Iris

The Bearded Iris are unique among spectacular flowering plants, the plants are largely trouble-free. But you need to watch for these issues:

Plant leaves turning yellow or brown: This is generally a sign of root rot caused by excessively wet soil. The plant leaves turning yellow or brown can also be the result of extensive damage from iris borers. It is best to immediately lift the affected root clumps to cut away any soft, decaying areas and then replant the Bearded Iris in soil that is porous and well-draining.

Flower stalks topple over: Some of the Bearded iris plants grow as much as forty inches tall, and staking of the plant may be required to support the huge flowers. The Bearded iris plants that grow in shady conditions may get even leggier, making staking a necessity.

The leaves having yellow and brown spots: The spotted plant leaves are the result of bacteria or fungal infections on the plant. Actually the bacterial leaf spot generally begins on the edges of the plant leaves, gradually enlarging. Fungal leaf spots typically appear on the inner part of the plant leaves, and they do not enlarge in size. The affected Bearded iris plant parts should be removed and destroyed immediately. Keep the ground around the Bearded iris plant free of mulch and debris. A good garden hygiene normally controls the leaf spot diseases. A serious fungal infection on the plants can actually be controlled with fungicides.