Three Tips for Growing Healthy Bearded Iris
Annabel Hanna runs Sunshine Iris and Daylily Nursery from the family sheep property, Erin, north-west of Hay in the Western Riverina. Surrounded by irises that have thrived through drought, flood and the extremes of an Australian climate, Annabel has grown a deep appreciation for just how hardy and rewarding these plants can be.
In this new edition of Three Things With..., Annabel shares three simple tips for how to grow healthy bearded iris and keep them flowering well for years to come.
1. Good Drainage
Bearded iris can tolerate a surprisingly wide range of soils, but they do best when their roots and rhizomes aren’t sitting in wet ground.
Good drainage is one of the most important iris planting tips. If your soil is naturally free draining, you’re already off to a good start. If you have heavy clay, like Annabel does in parts of her garden, adding gypsum before planting can help improve the soil structure.
When learning how to plant iris, it’s worth taking a little time to prepare the soil first. Bearded iris are wonderfully hardy, but wet, compacted soil can cause problems around the rhizome.
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2. Right Depth
One of the most important planting tips for iris is getting the depth right.
Bearded iris rhizomes need exposure to both heat and cold to encourage flowering, so the ideal planting depth will depend a little on where you garden.
In hotter climates, covering the rhizome with roughly 1cm of free-draining soil can help protect it from scorching. In cooler climates, the top of the rhizome can be left exposed so it receives enough warmth.
If you’re wondering how to plant healthy bearded iris, think shallow rather than deep. The rhizome should sit close to the soil surface rather than being buried like a bulb.
3. Divide Regularly
As bearded iris establish, their clumps gradually become larger and more crowded. While a full clump can look glorious, overcrowding can eventually mean fewer flowers.
Dividing your iris every three to five years is one of the easiest ways of keeping them vigorous and growing healthy iris long term.
Lift the clump, separate the healthy rhizomes and replant them with enough room to grow. It helps reduce overcrowding and encourages stronger flowering in the seasons ahead.
And, as Annabel points out, there’s another rather good reason to divide them: every time you do, you get free plants. Replant them elsewhere in the garden or pass a few on to a friend.
Bearded iris really don’t ask for much. Give them free-draining soil, pay attention to planting depth and divide established clumps every few years, and they’ll reward you with flowers season after season.
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Need more iris planting tips? Follow Annabel and her beautiful nursery at @sunshineirisnursery and visit the Sunshine Iris and Daylily Nursery website to shop their gorgeous plants and products.
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