Irises are one of my favorite flowers, first, because they are easy to grow and maintain in our Northeast climate. They are perennial bulbs, but with so many varieties, you can have irises blooming in your garden from early spring to early summer.
Although irises are most commonly grown in gardens, there are also irises found in the wild and naturally occurring hybrids of the pallida and variegata forms.
The most common irises are usually some shade of purple, such as the bearded German Iris. Keep your eyes open at nurseries and catalogs however, as each year new hybridizations are developed and Irises are showing up in colors from pink to yellow to even red, which is the hardest color to attain. Some varieties boast a visual explosion of several colors in the same bloom.
Planting Iris bulbs is most ideal in September and October, but the bulbs can be very tuberous and spread every year. They should be thinned out to avoid overcrowing and the trimmed bulbs/tubers can be easily replanted to another bed. They are great to give to neighbors and friends to start their own beds.
The earliest blooming irises are generally the dwarf variety which emerge in March April and May. The taller varieties follow in May and June, however, my tall purple beauties emerged prolifically this past April and were a delight through the middle of May.
Planting several varieties that bloom sequentially will provide a longer enjoyment of the beauty and variety of these amazing flowers year after year.
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