Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1', 1-3'

 

Flower Color

Blue, Gold, Lavender, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Yellow, Violet, White, Multi-Colored

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green, Blue Green, Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Japanese, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Tropical

 

Accenting Features

Fragrance, Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Patio, Raised Planter, Walls / Fences, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Bearded iris are a garden staple, and for good cause. They are available in every conceivable color, and combinations of colors, and their erect, vertical nature makes them distinctive in the garden. Leaves tend to be strap-like, and green, blue-green, or grey-green, depending on the cultivar. Flowers bloom early summer for about a month or so. Some have fragrant flowers. They make excellent cut flowers, and seem to fit well into either informal or formal designs. Also called German Iris.

Grow in well drained soil in full sun to a bit of shade. They grow best in a loamy soil, so amend if you have sand or clay. They need the most water when blooming, but are remarkably drought tolerant. Though regular irrigation will ensure more prolific blooms, there is a stand of them along the east side of my garage and it is never irrigated, only rained on. And they bloom beautifully every summer. The foliage gets tatty late summer, whether you water or not. For more Iris info, see Guides. Planted as either container stock or in the fall as rhizomes.