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What Are Irises?
- Hardy herbaceous perennials in the Iridaceae Family
- Over 300 species within this genus plus hundreds of cultivars
- Easy to Recognize and Easy to Grow
- Flower heads have 3 upright petals known as “standards” and 3 outer petals referred to as “falls”
- Flowers range from 1” to 7” across
- Bloom time varies March to Mid-June
- Some prefer a drier soil and others will grow in water or bog areas
- Most Irises need full sun, but will tolerate shade
- Height will vary by variety
- Irises attract butterflies & hummingbirds
Other Characteristics That Are Quite Different
- Beards vs Beardless
- Bearded Irises are also known as German Irises
- Running down the center of each “fall or lower petal” is a bushy beard that looks like a furry caterpillar
Vincent Van Gogh – “Irises”
Vincent Van Gogh – “Irises”
Vincent Van Gogh – “Irises”
Irises attract Butterflies
Vincent Van Gogh – “Irises”
Vincent Van Gogh – “Irises”
Irises attract Hummingbirds
Vincent Van Gogh – “Irises”
Irises attract Hummingbirds
Bearded Irises
Irises attract Hummingbirds
When To Plant - July, August, September Where To Plant - 6-8 hours of sunlight
Bearded Irises
Bearded Irises
Bearded Irises
Soil Preparation - Moist but well-drained Planting Depth - Barely below soil surface Spacing Plants - 12-24” apart, groups of 3
Bearded Irises
Bearded Irises
Watering - When top 3” of soil is dry
Fertilization - 10-10-10
Dividing Clumps - Every 3-4 years
General Garden Care - Keep rhizomes free of weeds and leaves
how to dig and plant
Beardless Irises
Beardless Irises
1) Dutch – Comes from a bulb Excellent cut flowers Popular in the floral trade
When To Plant - Plant in fall before frost Where To Plant - Sunny location
Fertilization - Spring 10-10-10 General Garden Care- Cut off bloom stalks before seed pods form
Beardless Irises
Beardless Irises
Beardless Irises
2) Louisiana – Native to southern states Grow nicely at edge of ponds
When To Plant - Plant in fall before frost Where To Plant - Sunny location Fertilization - Spring 10-10-10
General Garden Care- Cut off bloom stalks before seed pods form
Beardless Irises
3) Siberian – Tall, delicate, grassy foliage Native to Italy & Turkey
Siberian - Even moisture Watering –
How to Plant – Siberian 1” deep
Where To Plant - Sunny location Fertilization - Spring 10-10-10
General Garden Care- Cut off bloom stalks before seed pods form
Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
4) Japanese – Resemble tropical birds Blooms after bearded irises Thrives around ponds
Watering ( Japanese) - As much water as possible
Garden Soil – Japanese - Require acidic soil 5.0-6.5
How to Plant – Japanese- 2” deep
Where To Plant - Sunny location Fertilization - Spring 10-10-10 General Garden Care- Cut off bloom stalks before seed pods form
Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
5) Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
It is a “Native Star”
* Beardless Iris - Purple, Blue, Lilac, Lavender, & White
* Bloom early Spring to May
* Grows 3-6” Tall in humus-rich soil Works well as a ground cover
* Prefers dappled shade - Deer-resistant Makes delightful tree surrounds
Diseases
Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
Dwarf Woodland Iris – (Crested Iris)
- Bacterial Leaf Blight
- Fungal Leaf Spot
- Bacterial Soft Rot
- Fungal Crown Rot
- Pests Iris Borer
Our Des Plaines Garden Club’s Garden Therapy Group
Garden Therapy Group Fall season at
· Oakton Arms in Des Plaines, IL on September 30th, 2024.
· Oakton Pavillion in Des Plaines IL on October 8th, 2024.
· Lee Manor in Des Plaines, IL on October 22nd, 2024
All the residents enjoyed their crafting FALL projects to decorate their rooms. It was a great success!
Another Awesome Job Team!
Thanks!