Grown from rhizomes, the plant has large, sword-shaped, upright foliage.
The fragrant flowers appear as a single bloom or a cluster on a long, tall stem.
Thebulbs are best planted in the fall.
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They naturalize and should be divided about every five years.
Expect to see dwarf iris blooms in late February through March in the South.
The flowers appear in mid-April to late May in the South.
To encourage growth and blooming, dwarf and Dutch irises require morefertilizerthan bearded varieties.
Take a soil sample and have it tested to determine fertilization needs.
When fertilizing a bearded iris, apply the fertilizer around the rhizome cluster, not directly on it.
Replant and fertilize the area lightly.
Reblooming varieties are heavy feeders that require more water and fertilization to rebloom in late summer or early fall.
Light:Irises need full sun (6 hours daily) to bloom well.
Soil:Irises planted in clay or heavy soil will not bloom well due to excess moisture.
Fertilization:Irises need nutrients to produce blooms.
Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring and again about a month after the blooms have faded.
For dwarf and Dutch irises, dig up and separate bulblets from the mother bulb every five years.
Divide and transplant bearded iris rhizomes every three to four years.
