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For those who are looking for just the right plants for their gardens, look no further than iris.
Perhaps no other plant has such beautiful flowers yet is so well-adapted to Utah's climate. These plants, sometimes called "poor man's orchids," are now in full bloom.
This diverse group of plants has more than 200 species and thousands of varieties, including one native type. From tiny bulbous iris to the tall bearded iris, they come in all sizes, shapes, colors and bloom times.
Iris blossoms have three upright petals (standards) and three hanging sepals (falls). Bearded irises get their name from the fuzzy fringe appendages located at the base of the falls. Some varieties have standards and falls of the same color, while other varieties have standards of one color and falls of another.
Irises come in almost every color, including some that are almost black. Tall bearded irises, the most commonly grown in Utah, are hardy, herbaceous perennials that thrive in all areas of the state.
Originally, bearded irises were called German Iris. They are hybridized so extensively that they are no longer assigned to specific species but are separated by height into dwarf, intermediate and tall varieties.
Standard dwarf bearded irises grow 8-15 inches tall; intermediate bearded irises are 16-27 inches tall; and tall bearded irises are usually more than 3 feet tall.
There are also Arilbred irises, which have their origins in the Middle East and Siberian irises and Louisiana irises. There are miniature tall bearded irises that flower arrangers really like.
By carefully selecting the types and utilizing different microclimates, irises can grace a garden for many weeks. With the many different kinds, we can have blooms for at least two months or more. Utah is a great place to grow irises, as we do not have the problem of leaf spot or iris borer that many other states have.
While irises are hardy, drought-tolerant performers, they are not totally carefree. Bearded irises require eight hours of full sun and good soil drainage. Because they are sun-loving, plant the rhizomes within an inch of the soil surface.
These flowers grow well in any good garden soil but have fewer problems in moderately fertile soils. Heavy, rich soils produce soft growth. Avoid crowding with other plants that overshadow or mat closely around the iris root and foliage. Keep iris beds free of weeds.
One common mistake is planting irises too close together. Allow two feet between the plants and dig them up and separate them every three years. Overgrown iris clumps decrease bloom stalks and bloom size.
Iris should be divided and transplanted after they bloom. Bearded irises grow from underground stems called rhizomes. The stringy roots arise from these fleshy stems. Replant rhizomes immediately so the roots keep growing. The plants then have a better chance of blooming the next year.
Written by: Larry A. Sagers Extension Horticulture Specialist Utah State University Thanksgiving Point Office
