Iris Flowers

The iris flower is stately and can be quite large. It has a long lasting bloom that comes in a multitude of colors and sizes.

The History of the Iris

The iris has a long and involved history going back about 7000 years.

The Greeks had a goddess named Iris who was supposed to lead the spirits of the dead women to the Elysian Fields. So the Greeks planted purple iris flowers on the graves of their women.

Irises have been found carved in to Egyptian relics and was used in that time for medicinal purposes and also used to create perfumes.

In France, King Louis VII declared the iris flower or “Fleur de li” the symbol of the French monarchy after he dreamed of it right before setting out on a crusade.

He had the symbol placed on his banner and it remained a part of the French monarchy’s identification for the next 600 years.

Joan of Arc was reputed to have carried a banner with white iris flowers woven into it as she lead the French troops into victory against the English.

Where and How to Plant

Irises prefer sunny areas that drain well. If your ground is hard or heavy, simply amend the soil with some sand and composted material.

Irises are very easy to grow and once they get going, really need little or no care. So this minimal site preparation will be well worth it.

Irises come in rhizomes and bulbs. They can be purchased in a local nursery or online and the choices are many with consideration to size, color and how many times they will bloom.

Look carefully at your chosen site and make your plans. Once planted, they will come back every year.

If you are planting a rhizome, it should be about one inch or so below the soil, and the roots can go deeper than that.

Plant about four feet or so apart, as they will spread out fairly rapidly and make sure you water thoroughly after planting. The bulb form of the iris is small, about the size of a shallot, and should be planted at a depth equal to the size of the bulb itself.

Generally, after the initial planting and watering, leave them alone until you see new growth coming out.

If you aren’t sure about the growing conditions in your area, make sure you talk with your local nursery. They can guide you if you have questions about your irises.

Types of Iris Flowers

There are more than 250 species of iris available today. They are divided between bulbs and rhizomes, but they all produce those beautiful iris flowers.

The iris plants that come from the rhizomes are evergreen perennials, and their leaves are always visible.

The bulb irises will go dormant for part of the year in the winter.

Most commonly known is the bearded iris. These are larger blooms and have a fuzzy “beard” at the top line of the inner petals.

Colors range from deep purple to a bright tangerine orange and everything in between.

Some of the most popular varieties are Mrs. Valerie West and Seminole who are known for their love of hot summers and little water. Mrs. Valerie West is along more traditional color line with lavender and dark purple.

Seminole has a dramatic fuchsia pink flower and really stands out in the garden.

The beardless iris have lines of bright colors on the flowers where the bearded iris have their beards.

The most common varieties of beardless iris are Louisiana, Japanese, Siberian and Pacific Coast. Unlike most irises, the Siberian iris will do well in a moist, shady garden spot.

Irises are easy to grow and will give you many years of enjoyment with very little work. Some communities even have iris clubs where the members will trade bulbs and rhizomes like recipes. Happy planting!