Few plants command the garden quite like the Iris. With sword-like foliage standing tall and flowers unfurling in a dazzlingly wide range of colors, from soft pastels to vivid violet and snowy white, Iris are one of the most rewarding bulbs you can add to your landscape. Iris thrive in garden zones 3 to 9 depending on the variety, grow to heights of 12 to 36 inches, and return more faithfully each year with very little fuss from the gardener.
An Iris for Every Corner of the Garden
Iris are wonderfully versatile and fit beautifully into almost any garden style. Their stately, upright foliage provides vertical growth that balances the soft mounding habit of roses, making them a classic and beloved planting companion. Try tucking a row of Iris along the front of a rose bed and enjoy the way they extend the blooming season into late spring before the roses fully take over. Iris also mix beautifully with Salvia, Allium, and Peonies for a richly layered May garden.
Iris are also wonderfully deer-resistant, which makes them a smart choice for gardeners who struggle with hungry visitors. Plant them in groupings of three, five, or seven for the most impactful display, and look forward to more blooms each season as your plants mature and spread.
Planting and Care
Iris need a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day with good drainage. Waterlogged soil is the enemy of Iris, so avoid low spots in the garden where water tends to collect after a rain.
Watch our step-by-step planting tutorial below, then follow along with the written guide for all the details.
The trick to planting Iris is to plant them shallowly: set the rhizome so that the top is exposed at the soil's surface rather than buried deep. Before setting each rhizome in place, work a teaspoon of Heirloom™ Bone Meal into the soil — the slow-release phosphorus will support strong root development. Space rhizomes 12–24 inches apart and pack the soil firmly around them to keep them upright. Water immediately after planting and continue with weekly watering throughout the growing season, reducing frequency once the foliage begins to die back in summer.
Iris are light feeders and generally do not need heavy fertilization. A light application of Founders Fish Fertilizer™ in early spring as growth resumes will keep them happy and encourage strong blooms. After blooming, deadhead spent stalks at the base to keep the plant tidy, but leave the foliage in place until it yellows naturally. It is still working hard to store energy for next year's blooms.
Divide Iris every 3–4 years to maintain vigorous flowering. Lift the clump after blooming, discard any old or soft center portions of the rhizome, and replant the healthy outer sections. Division is also the easiest way to multiply your Iris collection and share plants with friends.
Three of our favorites to grow this season are: Decadence, with rich plum-burgundy petals edged in apricot and bright yellow lace; You're a Peach, a warm and luminous blend of peach, apricot, and cream; and Purple Reign, a deeply saturated violet-purple that commands the garden from the moment it opens.