The same sort of happy accident happened for me. I got an iris of unknown color; when it bloomed it was a soft orange that exactly matched the early buds on the English Rose Count de Champagne!
Thank you so much for the advice about the rhizomes needing sun. Over 40 years I had never read this. It explains why a certain Iris bed flowers poorly and it’s companions in other beds flower with abandon. Thank you again.
The way I plant an iris is to make two parallel furrows just wider than the rhizome - place the rhizome on the surface of the soil between the furrows and tuck the side roots into the furrows. Cover the roots in their furrows. In this way you leave the rhizome sitting on the surface with roots nicely in the soil.
I dig iris out of my sister's yard. Stick them in the ground. No special treatments. Iris grew in a bag because I forgot about them in the garage. Planted them finally. They are on their second grow.
Wonderful advice! I often have a year of minimal iris bloom and always thought it was due to my watering schedule. It never occurred to me to ensure that sunlight reach the rhizomes. I will be much more vigilant in the future!
Iris are awesome, grow them here in Napa, California. They are planted in the ground and the soil is heavy, they take 30 degrees Fahrenheit winters and rains very well, growing in full sun. My mother plant now has about 6-10 bulbs together.
I would humbly suggest to viewers in colder climates, I personally live in zone 6, USA and I have mine lightly covered with soil and a bit of mulch, to protect them from direct frost. 🙏🏼🌳 Happy gardening!
Thank you - although many irises are very hardy - the 'bearded iris', which is the topic of this video is winter hardy down to Zone 3. It's amazing when you think how showy their flowers are.
About 30 years ago at the home we were living in at the time (Delaware USA), I ordered a variety of tall bearded irises from a couple companies out west (in the US) and planted them in the fall. The next year when they were growing and blooming we had an infestation of Iris borers which inhabited the flowering shoots causing these stems to the flowers to become yellowish and sticky and eventually collapse. I could dig them out(the borers) and crush them (very messy). Most of these irises did not do well in the long run because the borers eventually destroy the rhizome. We've lived in several homes since then and did not have a similar problem but now back in Delaware, some 10 plus years and retired, I noticed one of my iris plants to have this appearance again. I removed the stem but could not find the borer. I mention this because in your video you did not mention this as a problem. Note; I have some simple irises from my grandmothers yard dating back probably at least 100 years (still there-home is still in the family) and I have never seen this issue with this variety.
I have had the same issue here with some neglected iris I discovered on my property. I just dug them up and threw away the infested rhizomes and replanted the rest in another location that is sunnier and doesn’t get as much leaf litter. It is important to clear away the leaf littler from the irises in the fall/winter so the moths that lay the eggs won’t be attracted to the leaf litter around your irises and find somewhere else to lay their eggs.
You will see spots on the leaves, the moths lay eggs on the leaves, the larvae move down into the rhizome and feed causing it to rot. As soon as you see spots dig that Iris up. You will find the borer(s), cut the rotten part of the rhizome away and replant the Iris. Keep a very close eye on any other Iris you have. The moths overwinter in Iris debris, any trimmings or dead leaves or flower stems need to go in the garbage not the compost. Make sure you kill the borers as you find them. You don't need to move the Iris if you kill the borers and moving them will do no good if you haven't killed the borers.
Hello Alexandra, I was just looking at our Iris this morning and disappointed that it is another year with hardly any blooms. I thought it might be because of the sun but have not moved them because they are from my Mom's house and I created a little memorial garden for her at my house after she passed but the garden faces East and they are also in the shade of the house next door for part of the time. But I see after watching your video that I will have to move them if I want them to bloom. I do think it's interesting that I see huge clumps of Iris places where I know that no one cares like an office building etc. but it must be that they are in the full sun and love their spot. Thank you for such an informative video and for showing us all the beautiful blooms. Have a great weekend.
@@simplybloom Hi! I moved some of them last year to the front of our house…southern exposure, to see if that made a difference, and I have been giving them some fertilizer. They are only a few inches of leaves at this point because our weather is still chilly here in New Jersey. Thanks so much for asking!
This came just at the right time as I was watching the virtual Chelsea flower show today and thought I really would love to grow a few irises. I've never grown them before and can't wait. Thank you💕
You just gave me more work lol but most probably saved my irises. I’ve planted my irises too deep. I’ll have to remove some soil covering their rhizomes. Thanks again
Thank you for all the information on irises. My shorter ones are loaded with blooms right now. I will stake some of my tall varieties this year. I just thought there was something wrong with them if they couldn't hold the weight. I would cut them and enjoy inside.
I'm trying to grow Iris from seed right now but I'm probably way over my league as I've only grown sunflowers, this year I'm obsessed with wanting to grow any kind of seed I find or buy. Google always says do it in October. I think they're the bearded ones, I picked them from a garden in Holy Island in a place where they would absolutely get full sun, columbine pods were found nearby too, I'm trying to grow those as well but I put them in a damp paper towel in the fridge for a few weeks see If I can get them to germ, maybe I need to do something similar to the iris. Or maybe I should wait till this autumn, I was hoping this video would cover that aspect but given how hard It supposed to be I'm not that surprised. I had to subscribe, this was well put together thanks.
I never saw an iris I didn't like. I consider the bearded irises to be "erosion soldiers" when planted on a slope. Their broad sword-like leaves disperse and slows water down preventing gullies from developing. And as for the beardless irises, they are great by the stream or other areas at the bottom of a slope or in depressions that are too wet for other plants to thrive.
I absolutely agree - it is all about light for the rhizomes. But I found that tall bearded irises do even better if you plant them in a bed that is nearby a stone wall (granite) that can reflect that light, increasing the amount of energy that the plants can produce...
One thing no one ever talks about is that some irises are much better growers than others. A lot of newer irises are not all that strong. In this video you see a lot of older varieties, from the forties and even thirties. And these irises will grow like weeds. Any iris will grow well enough if the soil is excellent, but a lot of the older varieties will grow even in infertile soil with no care. The iris companies don't want iris to be too healthy, because then people divide them and give them away. If they die in a few years, then people have to buy new ones. On the iris websites, you almost never see anything about how strong a grower they are. It is also very hard to get honest information about rebloomers. In my experience there are actually a very limited number of rebloomers that actually DO rebloom without very exacting conditions.
You're right. I have to say my irises are so vigorous that they would take over the world if I didn't keep digging them up. But I agree that some are less vigorous.
Do you have a video like this about camellias?? I really like this one and the one about hydrangeas, very informative and well spoken. I would love to hear you talk about camellias and azaleas!
I love siberian Iris at the front of the border. The foliage is beautiful and spill over... It looks good all season too. I live in Canada zone 3 and find them bullet proof and unfussy.
They are certainly very hardy here too. I tried to divide a clump once and it nearly defeated me, but it has bounced back and is a valuable presence in my border.
Awesome! There has to be some way for me to grow these in Nw florida, zone 7:( THey grow in Alabama, just hours away. Any ideas. Excellent video and thanks.
Well, thank you for this. I have learned a lot about Iris that I did not know. I planted 2 tall ones last summer and hope they perform for me this summer. A small one that is growing beautifully, I want to divide and now I shall do that in July. Thanks so much.
Very informative. Thank you. A lot of my iris didn't bloom this year because we have a rotten freeze in April, although I am enjoying the ones that are blooming!
Thank you very much again a fantastic channel. i have just moved to a small cottage here in london where the previous owners used to live for nearly 70 years it had a very mature garden that i just went into like a steamroller ripping out very mature roses and cutting them down and replanting them unsucessfully . There were also about 50 very tall plants with no flowers that i now realise were Irisis. I pulled most of these up and saw that the rizhomes were on the surface. i pulled them up because my wife was unhappy that they took up a lot of the garden and had no flowers. I have thrown most of them on the compost heap and perhaps i can salvage the rhizomes . Not sure what to do with them if i have removed the green shoots from the rhizomes? can i just replant the rhizomes on the surface of the border or have i destroyed them. I feel very bad about it.
Don't feel too bad - we have all done similar things. I am not sure that the rhizomes will revive but you could plant a few in pots and see what happens. Mature shrubs like roses generally don't like to be moved, so if you like something but want it in a different place, its better to buy new (or propagate from the original shrub but you have enough to do at the moment). Gardens are very forgiving and it takes time to find your own 'gardening style' - you can get a house the way you want it, but a garden evolves constantly. And even very expert gardeners make mistakes so just enjoy learning about it all, don't worry when things go wrong and let it all take time. Easier said than done, I know!
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thanks a lot for the reply. I am 66 years old and this really is my first garden. Both my parents were amazing gardeners as is my sister but it does not seem to run in my genes. Iam particularly sad about the roses as they were my mothers speciality and if i had just left the old roses alone i suspect they would have been in bloom now and they were very old. I am thinking in light of what you said to dig up the roses i replanted and put them on the compost heap and start again. I think the Iris's i have also destroyed so will dig up the rhizomes and plant a few in pots as you suggested. The one clump of Irisis i did not dig up and replant has a flower bud starting to grow so i will see what they would have looked like if i had not messed about with them. I am way too impatient and as we moved into the place just before Christmas i should have waited till summer to see what was flowering and what was not and then made my decisions. Oh well I think I shall just clear out the borders of everything and then just till the soil until it is time to plant new shrubs and bulbs. Thanks again for your lovely videos they are very inspirational
Hi there, There are big advantages replacing roses. Many of the David Austin roses now available give you the feel of old English roses (and the scent) but with a lot less work, because they are much more healthy, due to their disease resistance. We started ours bare root - and they were dripping in flowers in just their second season. By starting again, you can create a garden that is truly reflects the both of you, and will evolve with the both of you through the seasons.
Interesting that's it's the rhizome that needs the sunlight, I wonder why that is. I don't have any iris currently, but I will remember for the future!
Great advice, thank you!! I've planted my first two Iris bulbs this spring, but I don't have much hope after seeing your video, because I can only garden in containers. Maybe I'll try to find short Irises next year and give these two to my mom to plant in the soil. Have a great evening!!
Do you happen to know the iris variety at the 24 second mark? That might be one of the bluest irises I’ve seen! I’ve tried many “blue” varieties and all have come out looking disappointingly lavender or purple:( Thanks!
Hi Alexandra, hope you're well. Question, How do I know what variety of IRIS I have? If they are the smaller type of larger type? I just planted 6 of them in two large rectangular pots. Thank You.
Was there a name on the label? (in which case you could Google it) Can you ask the company you bought them from? Or you could wait until they come up and measure them. It's probably worth making sure the pots are in a sheltered spot, as the taller ones may be damaged if they're exposed to wind. Hope that helps
Hi Alexandra, The label just said Iris. I did some research and found out that this variety is called Walking Iris (Trimezia gracilis). It's native to Brazil and Paraguay. They put out a white, blue and brown flower that lasts a short time, however, they put out many of them. This variety appears to reproduce easily in the wild, to the point that the plants appear to walk across the landscape, hence the name Walking Iris. Thank you for your response.
You get more irises by digging up a big clump and dividing it into smaller plants. These will grow into big clumps in turn, so you can divide them up again. Each clump takes about three years before you divide it. But you can't cut a bit of iris off the plant and propagate it in the same way that you propagate shrubs.
Hi Alexander, thank you so much for that information re- Iris’s! So information! What are the “frilly petal iris” called? I love your dog! He/she is beautiful, that fluffy tail is beautiful! What is the breed? 👍🏻💕🐨🌺
I think the iris is a 'bearded iris' and our dog, Lottie, is a saluki cross, otherwise known as a lurcher here. Salukis were the first hunting dogs ever bred by man, and came from the Arabian wolf.
I grew irises in northern Vermont. The difficulty is not so much the cold, as the short summers. You need irises that grow well, otherwise they tend to dwindle away. Some of the older varieties are good for this, but modern rebloomers are also better than most. Rebloomers don't go dormant, so if they get enough water, they will grow all summer. I haven't had a whole lot of luck getting rebloom. I think the ease of getting rebloom is grossly exaggerated. The white Immortality is a good grower and rebloomer, and also the old-fashioned lavender-edged Queen Dorothy. Two modern irises that I like because they grow and bloom well are Pinkness, which is pink with coral beards, and Joyous Skies, which is sky blue. Another variety that is a good grower is Rare Treat, or for a less ruffly precursor, Stepping Out. That particular color combination--white with deep purple edging--seems to be a good grower. Yellows are rarely as strong as purples and blacks. And pinks and sky blues also tend to be finicky, which I why I recommended good growers for each of those colors.
There is a difference, there are about 6 types of iris and Dutch irises, grown from bulbs are one of them. It looks similar to the bearded iris but the flower seems a little more delicate looking.
You said you garden in heavy clay soil; did you have to do something special to the soil where you grow your lavender to counter this? Your lavender looks like it's thriving there but I thought they needed dry, well draining soil.
It's very dry here in summer, which may be the key. But I didn't do anything to the soil, and apart from chopping my lavender back hard in August, it gets no care at all.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden I'm glad to hear yours does so well even in the clay. I'm from the States and garden in Missouri where we also have clay soil and hot dry summers. I've always wanted to grow lavender but have been a bit intimidated by it. This summer I had decided to try it. I feel more optimistic after hearing from you. Thanks again!
@@jimskipper1167Hi Jim, chiming in from the intermountain west here (Utah) - we also have heavy clay soil, and lavender thrives if given a chance. It looks like the climate may be similar to yours as far as temperature extremes (winter and summer), but I think the summers may be much drier here (not just low in precipitation, but very low humidity overall). Not sure how much of a difference it makes. From my experience and some advice I rooted out online - be careful about winter. Pick varieties that are hardy to your USDA zone (some very pretty fancy lavenders aren't hardy enough for here 😒). And improve drainage a bit. Nothing intensive down deep - more closer to the surface. The red lava rock widely available in big stores might not be a visual favorite, but it helps. (Can be covered with more visually pleasing stuff on top too). Or find some other gravel or small rocks that appeal. I plant fairly high, and mostly try to put small stones and rocks around the base of the plant - including stuff I simply dug out of the ground while gardening. Trying to find lighter in color "mediterranean" rocks is probably more about magic 😉 I think any would do. In our climate it seems to help prevent winter waterlogging. I do the same for all herbs that insist on being very "mediterranean" (those of dry rocky soils and eternal summers) especially rosemary that can be even more finicky here. But same as lavender - most of those that do establish, really can thrive. I try to avoid spots that wouldn't get much sun in the winter too. But rocks do seem to help, in my opinion. My 5c.
@@a.l1249 Thanks for the advice. I did add some pea gravel to the upper layer of soil and planted them high. I got mine in the ground late spring and they are really thriving. Unfortunately, I didn't think about winter hardiness when choosing my variety. I have munstead, not sure if that's a hardy one or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for winter.😁
@@jimskipper1167 Munstead should be fine I think. I don't have it, but I've seen it around, including at the botanical garden which is in the foothills a bit higher than the city - I bet they are one zone colder than the rest of surrounding areas. I'm sort of zone 7a (used to be 6b but not quite as cold in recent years, things are shifting) and the gardens would be a solid zone 6. Their "fragrance garden" has lots of lavender that look like the plants have been there for years. Good luck! Also, if you stumble across a variety called "Phenomenal" it may be worth a try too. The foliage doesn't deteriorate as much as some others in the winter or not at all in a mellow winter. And is doing great in my climate/soil so far.
it is not true that you cannot grow TB Iris in pots, I have and do as many others do, they do need watering, fertiliser and repotting more frequently however.
It depends on the iris. There are some native irises that can spread, but they're not the ones the bearded iris, which generally isn't native to the UK and is featured in this video. The bearded iris also isn't invasive either. So you need to be careful about the water irises, but these irises should be fine. It's probably a good idea to check the specific name of the iris before you buy it, putting it into a search engine with the query 'Is (insert botanic name of iris) invasive in the UK?'
I've just realised that I don't know where you live - if you're in the Southern hemisphere, it is winter so only plant if the weather is reasonably mild, no plants like very cold, damp or frozen soil when they are first planted. Otherwise keep in a pot and plant when weather warms up
Oh, dear. Advice does often vary, but this company is a very experienced iris grower so I'd be inclined to take their advice. Are they in a sunny enough spot? I also find that sometimes they don't flower the year after replanting.
I live in orange county California and I have two varieties. And they look like they are burnt all the time and my hubby is ready to toss them. They are facing west. So gets lots of sun. I'm at my wits end. Pleased help
Oh, dear, I'm sorry to hear that. Firstly make sure the irises are not planted too deep - you should be able to see the tops of their roots (rhizomes). Too deep planting can cause some brown patches. But it could also be a fungal disease, in which case you probably do need to get rid of them. Is there a local grower who could advise you?
The expert I spoke to didn't mention them, and I have looked at other iris sites online, and can't find any evidence of people mentioning them as a problem. But even if they aren't a problem now, I expect they will cross the Atlantic at some point, so we will have to be on our guard.
Need help my mom planted purple iris a few years ago and now they have started turning yellow. Can you please tell me what could be causing this to happen
I think it's possible that they are reverting to the irises they were bred from. You could dig them up and divide them, then replant them, but otherwise I'm not sure what to do.
Irises are poisonous if dogs or cats eat them, but I think it's relatively rare for them to do so. I have irises in my garden and my dog has never nibbled it. I would have thought pets would generally be OK, but it's hard to give a definite answer as I don't know whether your neighbours cats and dogs would eat your flowers.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you. I've never seen neighborhood pets eat flowers. The dogs are on leashes too, so if the irises are far away from the street I'm guessing it will be fine.
I'm not entirely sure, not if your ground is frozen, but if your weather is fairly mild, it may be OK. But it's better to plant them rather than risk them withering away and dying because they're not planted. Good luck.
I have a problem with Iris borer, also, in Georgia. I have always been told to soak them for a few (10-15) minutes in a weak water/bleach solution(10/1) before planting and it seems to work for me. They do always find them again, though.
I have checked with 'pests and diseases' on the British Iris Society website, they didn't mention it and neither did Iris of Sissinghurst. But I am sure it will arrive some time, not looking forward to it at all!
The Middle-Sized Garden so kind of you to check. Thank you. It is a plague and mainly hits giant bearded iris. But lives in thee soil indefinitely. It’s like NZ doesn’t have rose black spot. Hail Britannia! May you garden many years without iris borer or black spot.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden In my experience, the best way to manage this is preventatively, by removing all dry and damaged leaves promptly --- and cutting back all leaves in the fall which may contain eggs which hatch out the following season. An organic spray like spinosad in the early spring can then be used to wipe the rest of them out before they reach the rhizomes. The timing is critical in managing this, like so many things....
Two ways you can deal with borers without using harmful chemicals: 1. Cut off the fans showing borer damage an inch or so above the rhizome and discard. A new fan will eventually grow out. This works earlier in the season when the borers are still in the leaves and haven't made their way down to the rhizomes. Wait until the bloom stalks appear, so you don't unintentionally reduce the number of blooms. 2. Pull the leaves of the fan apart enough, so you can slide your finger in the slot of each leaf and look for the borer worm. When you find it, remove it from the leaf and squish it to kill it. Sometimes, there is only one borer in a fan of leaves, but many times, there are two, sometimes three. This is a more time-consuming process, but for me, I get the satisfaction of killing the borers. Earlier in the season, the borer worms will be smaller and might be harder to find. I usually wait until the irises are about done blooming to use this method.
Absolutely wrong about growing Iris in pots. I have grown all sizes of Iris in Containers for over 12 years. They survive Canadian winters (zone 6). The rhizomes "love" following the curve of the pots.
We have a huge problem here that you didn't mention- iris borers. Nasty Jabba the Hutt characters. You don't have them in Britain? They seem to infest bearded iris only. Wish you'd label all of them. I suppose our varieties are not your varieties.
Blessings in an abundance of the faith. I salute you. 😘🙏Grace and peace be unto you and to this place. God bless you. 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍Thank you. Will you believe and receive Jesus Christ as your LORD and personal saviour??? I do. 🌈🌈🌈
Great advice, thank you!! I've planted my first two Iris bulbs this spring, but I don't have much hope after seeing your video, because I can only garden in containers. Maybe I'll try to find short Irises next year and give these two to my mom to plant in the soil. Have a great evening!!
Well, it's always worth a try. Sometimes experts advise against planting tall plants in pots because they get blown over in the wind rather than because the plant will hate the pot. Might be worth putting them somewhere very sheltered and seeing what happens.
Stunning accident of your iris/poppy combination!
I love when that happens!
I was even quite shocked when I first saw it and thought it was a clash, then I fell in love with it.
The same sort of happy accident happened for me. I got an iris of unknown color; when it bloomed it was a soft orange that exactly matched the early buds on the English Rose Count de Champagne!
Thank you so much for the advice about the rhizomes needing sun. Over 40 years I had never read this. It explains why a certain Iris bed flowers poorly and it’s companions in other beds flower with abandon. Thank you again.
Glad it was helpful!
The way I plant an iris is to make two parallel furrows just wider than the rhizome - place the rhizome on the surface of the soil between the furrows and tuck the side roots into the furrows. Cover the roots in their furrows. In this way you leave the rhizome sitting on the surface with roots nicely in the soil.
That sounds a good way of doing it.
I dig iris out of my sister's yard. Stick them in the ground. No special treatments. Iris grew in a bag because I forgot about them in the garage. Planted them finally. They are on their second grow.
So glad I’ve found this helpful comment. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful advice! I often have a year of minimal iris bloom and always thought it was due to my watering schedule. It never occurred to me to ensure that sunlight reach the rhizomes. I will be much more vigilant in the future!
Glad it was helpful!
So much wonderful advice. Your channel has been a revelation to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.
As an Iris guy, Iris go well with more Iris. and more Iris.
Irises are my desert island plants. Lovely shots of your pretty dog.
Many thanks
Great video! Easy, deer resistant , drought tolerant, and always plenty to share 😉
Thanks 👍
Iris are awesome, grow them here in Napa, California. They are planted in the ground and the soil is heavy, they take 30 degrees Fahrenheit winters and rains very well, growing in full sun. My mother plant now has about 6-10 bulbs together.
Irises are very beautiful!
You look very beautiful in those colors and lighting. Thank you for the iris info.
Thank you!
I would humbly suggest to viewers in colder climates, I personally live in zone 6, USA and I have mine lightly covered with soil and a bit of mulch, to protect them from direct frost. 🙏🏼🌳 Happy gardening!
Thank you - although many irises are very hardy - the 'bearded iris', which is the topic of this video is winter hardy down to Zone 3. It's amazing when you think how showy their flowers are.
About 30 years ago at the home we were living in at the time (Delaware USA), I ordered a variety of tall bearded irises from a couple companies out west (in the US) and planted them in the fall. The next year when they were growing and blooming we had an infestation of Iris borers which inhabited the flowering shoots causing these stems to the flowers to become yellowish and sticky and eventually collapse. I could dig them out(the borers) and crush them (very messy). Most of these irises did not do well in the long run because the borers eventually destroy the rhizome. We've lived in several homes since then and did not have a similar problem but now back in Delaware, some 10 plus years and retired, I noticed one of my iris plants to have this appearance again. I removed the stem but could not find the borer. I mention this because in your video you did not mention this as a problem. Note; I have some simple irises from my grandmothers yard dating back probably at least 100 years (still there-home is still in the family) and I have never seen this issue with this variety.
Interesting, thank you. What a shame about the borers.
I have had the same issue here with some neglected iris I discovered on my property. I just dug them up and threw away the infested rhizomes and replanted the rest in another location that is sunnier and doesn’t get as much leaf litter. It is important to clear away the leaf littler from the irises in the fall/winter so the moths that lay the eggs won’t be attracted to the leaf litter around your irises and find somewhere else to lay their eggs.
You will see spots on the leaves, the moths lay eggs on the leaves, the larvae move down into the rhizome and feed causing it to rot. As soon as you see spots dig that Iris up. You will find the borer(s), cut the rotten part of the rhizome away and replant the Iris. Keep a very close eye on any other Iris you have. The moths overwinter in Iris debris, any trimmings or dead leaves or flower stems need to go in the garbage not the compost. Make sure you kill the borers as you find them. You don't need to move the Iris if you kill the borers and moving them will do no good if you haven't killed the borers.
Hello Alexandra, I was just looking at our Iris this morning and disappointed that it is another year with hardly any blooms. I thought it might be because of the sun but have not moved them because they are from my Mom's house and I created a little memorial garden for her at my house after she passed but the garden faces East and they are also in the shade of the house next door for part of the time. But I see after watching your video that I will have to move them if I want them to bloom. I do think it's interesting that I see huge clumps of Iris places where I know that no one cares like an office building etc. but it must be that they are in the full sun and love their spot. Thank you for such an informative video and for showing us all the beautiful blooms. Have a great weekend.
Thank you, I hope you find a nice new spot in the garden for your iris.
Did your irises start blooming better Carol? I know lack of blooms can also mean that they need to be divided. Hope they start blooming better!
@@simplybloom Hi! I moved some of them last year to the front of our house…southern exposure, to see if that made a difference, and I have been giving them some fertilizer. They are only a few inches of leaves at this point because our weather is still chilly here in New Jersey. Thanks so much for asking!
This came just at the right time as I was watching the virtual Chelsea flower show today and thought I really would love to grow a few irises. I've never grown them before and can't wait. Thank you💕
You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Heartly thanks for guiding regarding irir ...
You just gave me more work lol but most probably saved my irises. I’ve planted my irises too deep. I’ll have to remove some soil covering their rhizomes. Thanks again
Hope they grow well, at least the summer is coming when they most want the sun.
Just the video I needed, thank you! What a great channel you have, full of helpful advice.
Thank you!
Nicely done. I have many over here in the colonies.
Another informative video! For all the years I have had iris in my garden, I never knew it was the ribosome that’s needed the sunlight to flower!
Excellent Content
Wonderful video that answered every question I had! Thank you so much.
Glad it was helpful!
I 💚 you Alexandra! Thank you for your incredibly well done videos and knowledge.
Thank you!
Love the small ones,work well in my garden.And you get them in the color you need !
I agree!
Thank you for the basics - love irises--😀🇺🇸
Thank you thank you thank you that means I've got work to do on my Iris
Thanks for all the information, love Iris. Happy Gardening 👍❤️😊
Thanks for watching!
This video is just the information I needed! I have some that I need to move but didn’t know the best time to do so.
These grow like crazy here in Kansas, it’s hot and dry and the sun beats down in the summer
Thank you for all the information on irises. My shorter ones are loaded with blooms right now. I will stake some of my tall varieties this year. I just thought there was something wrong with them if they couldn't hold the weight. I would cut them and enjoy inside.
Thank you!
I'm trying to grow Iris from seed right now but I'm probably way over my league as I've only grown sunflowers, this year I'm obsessed with wanting to grow any kind of seed I find or buy. Google always says do it in October. I think they're the bearded ones, I picked them from a garden in Holy Island in a place where they would absolutely get full sun, columbine pods were found nearby too, I'm trying to grow those as well but I put them in a damp paper towel in the fridge for a few weeks see If I can get them to germ, maybe I need to do something similar to the iris. Or maybe I should wait till this autumn, I was hoping this video would cover that aspect but given how hard It supposed to be I'm not that surprised. I had to subscribe, this was well put together thanks.
Thank you and good luck with the growing.
I never saw an iris I didn't like. I consider the bearded irises to be "erosion soldiers" when planted on a slope. Their broad sword-like leaves disperse and slows water down preventing gullies from developing. And as for the beardless irises, they are great by the stream or other areas at the bottom of a slope or in depressions that are too wet for other plants to thrive.
That was just so helpful... everything I wanted and needed to know... thanks so much!🤗🤗
Glad it was helpful!
I absolutely agree - it is all about light for the rhizomes. But I found that tall bearded irises do even better if you plant them in a bed that is nearby a stone wall (granite) that can reflect that light, increasing the amount of energy that the plants can produce...
That does sound like a good idea, and perhaps quite similar to the Mediterranean type aspects where they evolved.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden I completely agree. I never thought about it that way!
I love irises and have them both on land and in the wildlife pond. I wish the flowers lasted a bit longer.
Ah, yes, I'm always sorry to see them go.
Thank you, very informative.
I would love it if you had an episode about best types of Euphorbia that work well in borders!
That's a very good idea.
Great content. You have beautiful colors of irises there. May I know where you buy them. I am making a collection of colors.
This is great advice, and just what I was looking for. Thank you
You're so welcome!
One thing no one ever talks about is that some irises are much better growers than others. A lot of newer irises are not all that strong. In this video you see a lot of older varieties, from the forties and even thirties. And these irises will grow like weeds. Any iris will grow well enough if the soil is excellent, but a lot of the older varieties will grow even in infertile soil with no care. The iris companies don't want iris to be too healthy, because then people divide them and give them away. If they die in a few years, then people have to buy new ones. On the iris websites, you almost never see anything about how strong a grower they are. It is also very hard to get honest information about rebloomers. In my experience there are actually a very limited number of rebloomers that actually DO rebloom without very exacting conditions.
You're right. I have to say my irises are so vigorous that they would take over the world if I didn't keep digging them up. But I agree that some are less vigorous.
Thanks for including the time of year to divide, I really need to do that.
Bergenia next to iris is lovely.
Do you have a video like this about camellias?? I really like this one and the one about hydrangeas, very informative and well spoken. I would love to hear you talk about camellias and azaleas!
I haven't done camellias or azaleas, but we did do Rhododendrons if that's any help: th-cam.com/video/i_EljJlbqmI/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the advice!
Thank you! Love iris!
Beautiful! Thank you for this. What is the name of the iris you show at 12:43, right before the end?
Thanks. Very helpful
I love siberian Iris at the front of the border. The foliage is beautiful and spill over... It looks good all season too.
I live in Canada zone 3 and find them bullet proof and unfussy.
They are certainly very hardy here too. I tried to divide a clump once and it nearly defeated me, but it has bounced back and is a valuable presence in my border.
Awesome! There has to be some way for me to grow these in Nw florida, zone 7:( THey grow in Alabama, just hours away. Any ideas. Excellent video and thanks.
Great tips! I would like to know the name of your purple iris next to the euphorbia. I would like to try that. It’s beautiful.
It's called Sable. I bought it one year after seeing it in a RHS Chelsea Show Garden
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Merci beaucoup 🙏🏿
Well, thank you for this. I have learned a lot about Iris that I did not know. I planted 2 tall ones last summer and hope they perform for me this summer. A small one that is growing beautifully, I want to divide and now I shall do that in July. Thanks so much.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for the details on care! Btw what is the name of the Irish shown at 12:45? It's SOOOO beautiful!
I agree, it is so beautiful, but sadly the owner couldn't remember its name. It's been there for about five years, and her records were lost.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden no worries and thanks for getting back to me. Happy Gardening!
Very informative. Thank you. A lot of my iris didn't bloom this year because we have a rotten freeze in April, although I am enjoying the ones that are blooming!
Better luck next year! We had a very mild winter and our irises have been lovely this year.
Amo iris germanica quero comprar mudas
Thank you very much again a fantastic channel. i have just moved to a small cottage here in london where the previous owners used to live for nearly 70 years it had a very mature garden that i just went into like a steamroller ripping out very mature roses and cutting them down and replanting them unsucessfully . There were also about 50 very tall plants with no flowers that i now realise were Irisis. I pulled most of these up and saw that the rizhomes were on the surface. i pulled them up because my wife was unhappy that they took up a lot of the garden and had no flowers. I have thrown most of them on the compost heap and perhaps i can salvage the rhizomes . Not sure what to do with them if i have removed the green shoots from the rhizomes? can i just replant the rhizomes on the surface of the border or have i destroyed them. I feel very bad about it.
Don't feel too bad - we have all done similar things. I am not sure that the rhizomes will revive but you could plant a few in pots and see what happens. Mature shrubs like roses generally don't like to be moved, so if you like something but want it in a different place, its better to buy new (or propagate from the original shrub but you have enough to do at the moment). Gardens are very forgiving and it takes time to find your own 'gardening style' - you can get a house the way you want it, but a garden evolves constantly. And even very expert gardeners make mistakes so just enjoy learning about it all, don't worry when things go wrong and let it all take time. Easier said than done, I know!
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thanks a lot for the reply. I am 66 years old and this really is my first garden. Both my parents were amazing gardeners as is my sister but it does not seem to run in my genes. Iam particularly sad about the roses as they were my mothers speciality and if i had just left the old roses alone i suspect they would have been in bloom now and they were very old. I am thinking in light of what you said to dig up the roses i replanted and put them on the compost heap and start again. I think the Iris's i have also destroyed so will dig up the rhizomes and plant a few in pots as you suggested. The one clump of Irisis i did not dig up and replant has a flower bud starting to grow so i will see what they would have looked like if i had not messed about with them. I am way too impatient and as we moved into the place just before Christmas i should have waited till summer to see what was flowering and what was not and then made my decisions. Oh well I think I shall just clear out the borders of everything and then just till the soil until it is time to plant new shrubs and bulbs.
Thanks again for your lovely videos they are very inspirational
Hi there, There are big advantages replacing roses. Many of the David Austin roses now available give you the feel of old English roses (and the scent) but with a lot less work, because they are much more healthy, due to their disease resistance. We started ours bare root - and they were dripping in flowers in just their second season. By starting again, you can create a garden that is truly reflects the both of you, and will evolve with the both of you through the seasons.
Interesting that's it's the rhizome that needs the sunlight, I wonder why that is. I don't have any iris currently, but I will remember for the future!
I wonder if it's the warmth rather than the light?
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Ah yes it could be, that would make sense!
Can you grow more irises from the seeds produced from the flowers?
Apparently you can, but the RHS describes it as 'a challenging project.' Which I think means 'not likely to succeed.' But you could try.
What’s the name of that purple Iris please?
Great advice, thank you!!
I've planted my first two Iris bulbs this spring, but I don't have much hope after seeing your video, because I can only garden in containers. Maybe I'll try to find short Irises next year and give these two to my mom to plant in the soil.
Have a great evening!!
It may work out...good luck.
Do you happen to know the iris variety at the 24 second mark? That might be one of the bluest irises I’ve seen! I’ve tried many “blue” varieties and all have come out looking disappointingly lavender or purple:( Thanks!
Hi Alexandra, hope you're well. Question, How do I know what variety of IRIS I have? If they are the smaller type of larger type? I just planted 6 of them in two large rectangular pots. Thank You.
Was there a name on the label? (in which case you could Google it) Can you ask the company you bought them from? Or you could wait until they come up and measure them. It's probably worth making sure the pots are in a sheltered spot, as the taller ones may be damaged if they're exposed to wind. Hope that helps
Hi Alexandra,
The label just said Iris. I did some research and found out that this variety is called Walking Iris (Trimezia gracilis). It's native to Brazil and Paraguay. They put out a white, blue and brown flower that lasts a short time, however, they put out many of them. This variety appears to reproduce easily in the wild, to the point that the plants appear to walk across the landscape, hence the name Walking Iris. Thank you for your response.
Hello,I also love iris flowers cannot propagate them what can l do , please help me thanks you
You get more irises by digging up a big clump and dividing it into smaller plants. These will grow into big clumps in turn, so you can divide them up again. Each clump takes about three years before you divide it. But you can't cut a bit of iris off the plant and propagate it in the same way that you propagate shrubs.
Hello mam can u give me tips on growing irish seeds about how to germinate it on easy way
I'd recommend buying iris tubers rather than growing from seed.
Hi Alexander, thank you so much for that information re- Iris’s! So information! What are the “frilly petal iris” called? I love your dog! He/she is beautiful, that fluffy tail is beautiful! What is the breed? 👍🏻💕🐨🌺
I think the iris is a 'bearded iris' and our dog, Lottie, is a saluki cross, otherwise known as a lurcher here. Salukis were the first hunting dogs ever bred by man, and came from the Arabian wolf.
I've been growing bearded iris in Scotland, not an easy task
I grew irises in northern Vermont. The difficulty is not so much the cold, as the short summers. You need irises that grow well, otherwise they tend to dwindle away. Some of the older varieties are good for this, but modern rebloomers are also better than most. Rebloomers don't go dormant, so if they get enough water, they will grow all summer. I haven't had a whole lot of luck getting rebloom. I think the ease of getting rebloom is grossly exaggerated. The white Immortality is a good grower and rebloomer, and also the old-fashioned lavender-edged Queen Dorothy. Two modern irises that I like because they grow and bloom well are Pinkness, which is pink with coral beards, and Joyous Skies, which is sky blue. Another variety that is a good grower is Rare Treat, or for a less ruffly precursor, Stepping Out. That particular color combination--white with deep purple edging--seems to be a good grower. Yellows are rarely as strong as purples and blacks. And pinks and sky blues also tend to be finicky, which I why I recommended good growers for each of those colors.
I’ve just planted 100. Dutch irises. These are bulbs. Is there a difference.?
There is a difference, there are about 6 types of iris and Dutch irises, grown from bulbs are one of them. It looks similar to the bearded iris but the flower seems a little more delicate looking.
You said you garden in heavy clay soil; did you have to do something special to the soil where you grow your lavender to counter this? Your lavender looks like it's thriving there but I thought they needed dry, well draining soil.
It's very dry here in summer, which may be the key. But I didn't do anything to the soil, and apart from chopping my lavender back hard in August, it gets no care at all.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden I'm glad to hear yours does so well even in the clay. I'm from the States and garden in Missouri where we also have clay soil and hot dry summers. I've always wanted to grow lavender but have been a bit intimidated by it. This summer I had decided to try it. I feel more optimistic after hearing from you. Thanks again!
@@jimskipper1167Hi Jim, chiming in from the intermountain west here (Utah) - we also have heavy clay soil, and lavender thrives if given a chance. It looks like the climate may be similar to yours as far as temperature extremes (winter and summer), but I think the summers may be much drier here (not just low in precipitation, but very low humidity overall). Not sure how much of a difference it makes. From my experience and some advice I rooted out online - be careful about winter. Pick varieties that are hardy to your USDA zone (some very pretty fancy lavenders aren't hardy enough for here 😒). And improve drainage a bit. Nothing intensive down deep - more closer to the surface. The red lava rock widely available in big stores might not be a visual favorite, but it helps. (Can be covered with more visually pleasing stuff on top too). Or find some other gravel or small rocks that appeal. I plant fairly high, and mostly try to put small stones and rocks around the base of the plant - including stuff I simply dug out of the ground while gardening. Trying to find lighter in color "mediterranean" rocks is probably more about magic 😉 I think any would do. In our climate it seems to help prevent winter waterlogging. I do the same for all herbs that insist on being very "mediterranean" (those of dry rocky soils and eternal summers) especially rosemary that can be even more finicky here. But same as lavender - most of those that do establish, really can thrive. I try to avoid spots that wouldn't get much sun in the winter too. But rocks do seem to help, in my opinion. My 5c.
@@a.l1249 Thanks for the advice. I did add some pea gravel to the upper layer of soil and planted them high. I got mine in the ground late spring and they are really thriving. Unfortunately, I didn't think about winter hardiness when choosing my variety. I have munstead, not sure if that's a hardy one or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for winter.😁
@@jimskipper1167 Munstead should be fine I think. I don't have it, but I've seen it around, including at the botanical garden which is in the foothills a bit higher than the city - I bet they are one zone colder than the rest of surrounding areas. I'm sort of zone 7a (used to be 6b but not quite as cold in recent years, things are shifting) and the gardens would be a solid zone 6. Their "fragrance garden" has lots of lavender that look like the plants have been there for years. Good luck!
Also, if you stumble across a variety called "Phenomenal" it may be worth a try too. The foliage doesn't deteriorate as much as some others in the winter or not at all in a mellow winter. And is doing great in my climate/soil so far.
You find these in the wild where least expected. Yes a wild bright yellow pond dwelling one.
it is not true that you cannot grow TB Iris in pots, I have and do as many others do, they do need watering, fertiliser and repotting more frequently however.
Good point!
What is best to grow with bearded iris for succession flowering please?
In my garden, I find that tulips and euphorbia work well before the irises, while roses and verbascum work well afterwards.
No mention of Louisiana iris
No mention of japanesse iris
No this is about Bearded Irises, and both Louisiana and Japanese irises are 'beardless'.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden
You references Siberian iris And refer to them as " water iris.
Siberian iris are not bearded .
Is the iris plant invasive in the UK. Thank you
It depends on the iris. There are some native irises that can spread, but they're not the ones the bearded iris, which generally isn't native to the UK and is featured in this video. The bearded iris also isn't invasive either. So you need to be careful about the water irises, but these irises should be fine. It's probably a good idea to check the specific name of the iris before you buy it, putting it into a search engine with the query 'Is (insert botanic name of iris) invasive in the UK?'
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden thank you for your reply will definitely do my research as I really love these plants. X
I was just sent a Siberian iris in a bag with soil. It has some weak leaves and plenty of roots. It is May here. Should I go ahead and plant them?
Absolutely plant them now. Siberian irises are pretty tough. If you have a dry spell, water them- that goes for all newly planted perennials
I've just realised that I don't know where you live - if you're in the Southern hemisphere, it is winter so only plant if the weather is reasonably mild, no plants like very cold, damp or frozen soil when they are first planted. Otherwise keep in a pot and plant when weather warms up
Why do the rhizomes have to be exposed. Other experts say bury them just below the surface. I have tried both methods and still they will not flower
Oh, dear. Advice does often vary, but this company is a very experienced iris grower so I'd be inclined to take their advice. Are they in a sunny enough spot? I also find that sometimes they don't flower the year after replanting.
I live in orange county California and I have two varieties. And they look like they are burnt all the time and my hubby is ready to toss them. They are facing west. So gets lots of sun. I'm at my wits end. Pleased help
Oh, dear, I'm sorry to hear that. Firstly make sure the irises are not planted too deep - you should be able to see the tops of their roots (rhizomes). Too deep planting can cause some brown patches. But it could also be a fungal disease, in which case you probably do need to get rid of them. Is there a local grower who could advise you?
You didn't talk about pests like Iris bores. Do you not have them in England?
The expert I spoke to didn't mention them, and I have looked at other iris sites online, and can't find any evidence of people mentioning them as a problem. But even if they aren't a problem now, I expect they will cross the Atlantic at some point, so we will have to be on our guard.
Need help my mom planted purple iris a few years ago and now they have started turning yellow. Can you please tell me what could be causing this to happen
I think it's possible that they are reverting to the irises they were bred from. You could dig them up and divide them, then replant them, but otherwise I'm not sure what to do.
So if I plant irises in the front yard, other people's pets will generally be okay?
Irises are poisonous if dogs or cats eat them, but I think it's relatively rare for them to do so. I have irises in my garden and my dog has never nibbled it. I would have thought pets would generally be OK, but it's hard to give a definite answer as I don't know whether your neighbours cats and dogs would eat your flowers.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thank you. I've never seen neighborhood pets eat flowers. The dogs are on leashes too, so if the irises are far away from the street I'm guessing it will be fine.
I was gifted iris bulbs, can I plant them now in Feb?
I'm not entirely sure, not if your ground is frozen, but if your weather is fairly mild, it may be OK. But it's better to plant them rather than risk them withering away and dying because they're not planted. Good luck.
Louisiana irises do like water.
What exactly is a flower society?
There are a number of groups and organisations around a particular flower - for example, The British Iris Society or the American Iris Society.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden how do you join, and whats the benefit of joining?
Do you know this ires black widow ires
I don't think so.
Do you not have iris borer in England? Horrible here in the US. I cut out infected bit and coat in sulfur...but difficult to get rid of it.
I have a problem with Iris borer, also, in Georgia. I have always been told to soak them for a few (10-15) minutes in a weak water/bleach solution(10/1) before planting and it seems to work for me. They do always find them again, though.
I have checked with 'pests and diseases' on the British Iris Society website, they didn't mention it and neither did Iris of Sissinghurst. But I am sure it will arrive some time, not looking forward to it at all!
The Middle-Sized Garden so kind of you to check. Thank you. It is a plague and mainly hits giant bearded iris. But lives in thee soil indefinitely. It’s like NZ doesn’t have rose black spot. Hail Britannia! May you garden many years without iris borer or black spot.
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden In my experience, the best way to manage this is preventatively, by removing all dry and damaged leaves promptly --- and cutting back all leaves in the fall which may contain eggs which hatch out the following season. An organic spray like spinosad in the early spring can then be used to wipe the rest of them out before they reach the rhizomes. The timing is critical in managing this, like so many things....
Two ways you can deal with borers without using harmful chemicals:
1. Cut off the fans showing borer damage an inch or so above the rhizome and discard. A new fan will eventually grow out. This works earlier in the season when the borers are still in the leaves and haven't made their way down to the rhizomes. Wait until the bloom stalks appear, so you don't unintentionally reduce the number of blooms.
2. Pull the leaves of the fan apart enough, so you can slide your finger in the slot of each leaf and look for the borer worm. When you find it, remove it from the leaf and squish it to kill it. Sometimes, there is only one borer in a fan of leaves, but many times, there are two, sometimes three. This is a more time-consuming process, but for me, I get the satisfaction of killing the borers. Earlier in the season, the borer worms will be smaller and might be harder to find. I usually wait until the irises are about done blooming to use this method.
Ton of iris that are hardy zone 3.
Yes, I realised that I'd rather picked Zone 5 to mention at random, but I hope that doesn't mislead anyone.
Do Japanese beetles eat IRIS flowers?
I understand that Japanese beetles will eat iris flowers, so if you have Japanese beetles in your garden, then it would be wise not to grow iris.
Where I live, the irises are done blooming about a month - 6 weeks before the Japanese beetles come along.
very comprehensive ... nononannette
In the states, bores can be a bother to iris. So gross...
yikes. tried 5-6 times to catch some of the words spoken fast and no-go. need subtitles :(
My name ie iris and i have irises
👏💖❤️😻🌟😘😚💗
🤩🕊🌞💐💜
Absolutely wrong about growing Iris in pots.
I have grown all sizes of Iris in Containers for over 12 years. They survive Canadian winters (zone 6).
The rhizomes "love" following the curve of the pots.
Interesting
We have a huge problem here that you didn't mention- iris borers. Nasty Jabba the Hutt characters. You don't have them in Britain? They seem to infest bearded iris only. Wish you'd label all of them. I suppose our varieties are not your varieties.
Blessings in an abundance of the faith. I salute you. 😘🙏Grace and peace be unto you and to this place. God bless you. 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍Thank you. Will you believe and receive Jesus Christ as your LORD and personal saviour??? I do. 🌈🌈🌈
your diction is like music
🪴💜HELPFUL💜🪴
I’m
Why are you lying on the grass?
Great advice, thank you!!
I've planted my first two Iris bulbs this spring, but I don't have much hope after seeing your video, because I can only garden in containers. Maybe I'll try to find short Irises next year and give these two to my mom to plant in the soil.
Have a great evening!!
Well, it's always worth a try. Sometimes experts advise against planting tall plants in pots because they get blown over in the wind rather than because the plant will hate the pot. Might be worth putting them somewhere very sheltered and seeing what happens.