- Upon receipt
- Plant as soon as possible, preferably within a couple of days, we dig as close to sending as possible because they do not like to dry out.
- Botanical Name
- Iris pallida
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Plant Type
- Evergreen rhizome
- Size (HxW)
- 40-100cm x 20-30cm
- Depth & Spacing
- Plant the crown at the soil surface with the top of the rhizome exposed (at the point where the green growth starts). Plant 20-30cm apart.
- Soil
- Moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil. Tight, clay soils that are not well drained will keep the soil too moist and may cause rotting. If this is the case, you will need to raise the beds or add drainage. Sandy soils are fine, you may need to water a little more depending on conditions.
- Aspect
- Full sun
- Climate
- Cool to Mediterranean
- Frost
- Hardy
- Water
- Keep just moist until established, then they are dry tolerant. A light mulch in spring will reduce weeds and help with water retention, keep it clear of the rhizome though. Fertiliser: Apply a rose fertiliser (or one low in nitrogen, 13:14:12 is ideal according to the NSW Iris Society) in August or early spring, before flowering – take care to keep the fertiliser away from the rhizome as this may cause burn if applied directly – and again in late summer to encourage a second bloom. They are not heavy feeders, so a light application is best.
- Flowering Time
- Late spring to summer (dwarf varieties flower first).
- After Flower Care
- Remove spent flowers to tidy and encourage more blooms. There are usually two flowers to each stem, just pull/snip out the spent ones as they turn then remove the whole stalk. If the foliage looks tired, you can cut it back to 10cm tall after flowering, and it will soon reshoot.
- Notes
- They flower best when the rhizome is just above the ground, taking in the warmth. It is advisable not to cover the rhizome with mulch as this will inhibit flowering. Be wary of aphids and remove as necessary. Fungal leaf spot may occur if your plant is unhealthy, this is represented by brown spots on the leaves. Remove the affected leaves and discard. If the problem persists use a fungicide, following the directions on the packet.
If overcrowding occurs, they can be lifted and divided, (this can be between three to five years), you can do this anytime of the year, as long as they are not in flower but autumn is ideal as any other time could delay flowering. Cut the foliage back to around 5cm then lift and divide. Replant soon after, and water in with a seaweed tonic. Store in a cool position if unable to replant immediately then replant as soon as possible.
Feel free to pull out any browned leaves to tidy and plant health. If you are picking your flowers for the vase, do so in the morning, when the top flower is just beginning to open. If you grow yours in pots they should be at least 30cm, or bigger if you are going for display, use a good quality potting mix and pay particular attention to watering, dig and divide a little more regularly. If you are attempting to grow Iris in warm climates you could try freezing some ice cream containers of water in July and placing them around the roots overnight to help simulate the frost they need to flower well.
