The iris, often also referred to as the sword lily, is a genus of plants that also occurs in various subspecies in the wild of Central European natural landscapes. The frugal plants can also cope with rather poor soil and are grateful bloomers if you follow a few care instructions.

The iris likes it warm and sunny in the garden

Choosing the right location for the iris

In principle, the iris is relatively easy to flower, even for garden beginners, as it requires little or no fertilization and constantly multiplies without much effort. However, when choosing a location, you should make sure that the iris needs the following factors to thrive:

  • a warm, sunny spot
  • as loose a ground as possible
  • enough space to spread out

The iris propagates not only through the seeds that ripen on the withered inflorescences, but also through the growth of the underground rhizome. You should therefore choose a bed for the iris that also has some space for propagation.

Digging up and dividing the rhizomes: propagation and regeneration

Some types of irises can form a circle of leaves and flowers around the originally planted area. Then you can't just cut the iris into shape like other plants when you want to remove the bald spot. Rather, you should carefully dig up and divide the entire rhizome after flowering. Plant the young side shoots at least 40 centimeters apart in the loosened soil and compost the old rhizome part from the middle.

Ensure a sea of flowers all year round

In many species, the exact flowering time of the irises is related to the growth height of the leaves and flowers. Combine species of different heights with different flower colors to be able to enjoy a lasting sea of colors in the garden from spring to late summer.

tips and tricks

The different growth heights of various types of irises can be beautifully staged in a garden bed if you model the summer sea of blossoms like a landscape. For example, increase the height from the front to the back of the bed by planting the lower-growing species on the side facing the viewer.

Category:

Vegetable garden