Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Bearded Iris

bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
in Plants
I’ve been given a pot with a growing bearded iris in . It’s a couple of inches tall . I know nothing about these plants except that they have to grow in sun and be planted shallow . My question is ,if I plant this iris do you think it will bloom this summer ? 
«13

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    It might well do.
    Plant in full sun, with the tuber sitting on the surface of the soil, and very little competition from surrounding plants.
    They are beautiful, but with a very short period of interest.
    They also prefer a slightly alkaline soil.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I love them but have stopped growing them because they need that sun for the tubers, and I can't give them enough if they're in borders - they'd have to be in a bed, or similar, by themselves. I grow the other types more, as they don't need that baking.

    You may find it needs some basic support while establishing. They're quite wobbly until they get well rooted in, especially as the foliage grows and they get a bit top heavy.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @bcpathome pathome They need 6 to 8 hours of sun in free draining soil.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    When planting ensure the rhizome is in a position where it will get the most sun.
    To ensure flowering the rhizome needs to get baked in the summer sun for flowers the following year so make sure the rhizome isn't shaded by any leaves.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LilyWLilyW Posts: 41
    Love, love these on my chalky soil, Where they seem to multiply very fast. I bought too many last year and they are quite expensive to buy. Will need to give minE away too!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    LilyW said:
    Love, love these on my chalky soil, Where they seem to multiply very fast. I bought too many last year and they are quite expensive to buy. Will need to give minE away too!
    I have lots too.
    I split them a couple of years abo and had 50+ spares.
    I put them on Freecycle and they were all gone within a day!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LilyWLilyW Posts: 41
    Pete.8 said:
    LilyW said:
    Love, love these on my chalky soil, Where they seem to multiply very fast. I bought too many last year and they are quite expensive to buy. Will need to give minE away too!
    I have lots too.
    I split them a couple of years abo and had 50+ spares.
    I put them on Freecycle and they were all gone within a day!
    Freecycle, they must love you! Perhaps I should look out for plants There....I wonder if there are any garden plant swap websites? I think there must be but haven’t come across one yet.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    LilyW said:
    I wonder if there are any garden plant swap websites? I think there must be but haven’t come across one yet.
    yes - there's one on this forum - 
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1070192/new-year-new-seeds-and-plant-swap-2023

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    But does anyone think it will flower this summer? Thank you all for the growing instructions. I just wondered if I’ll have to wait another year for the flower ,apparently it’s a lemon yellow colour .
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    LilyW said:
    Love, love these on my chalky soil, Where they seem to multiply very fast. I bought too many last year and they are quite expensive to buy. Will need to give minE away too!
    I can't stop growing them even though my garden is too shady. Every year I make pilgrimages to iris gardens to look for good varieties that don't suffer from disease. But to keep them in sun I have to grow them in pots, which they only tolerate for two years :(

    You can tell if yours will flower this year by gently feeling the flat of the leaves just above the rhizome. If there is a sort of pregnant bulge, a flower bud is developing. If it feels flat all the way up and down, it's just leaves. They use last year's sun to produce this year's buds.
Sign In or Register to comment.