- How do plants of the genus Iris grow?
- What location do irises prefer?
- How deep do irises need to be planted?
- Is it worth growing irises from seed or are there other propagation methods?
- When is the flowering time of the iris?
- tips and tricks
Basically, it doesn't take much effort if you want to plant irises in your garden. These plants are relatively uncomplicated and require very little care in the right location.

How do plants of the genus Iris grow?
Irises have bulbous underground rhizomes in which a lot of moisture and energy can be stored. Depending on the subspecies, the leaves are between 30 and 80 centimeters high. Large individual flowers in colorful forms open on the flower stalks.
What location do irises prefer?
When choosing a location, you should always look for a location that is as sunny as possible. However, the plants in the following subgroups each have different moisture requirements:
- the beard iris
- the steppe iris
- the swamp iris
While the swamp iris prefers a rather permanently moist soil, specimens of the steppe iris are sensitive to waterlogging in the soil. The bearded iris also produces its magnificent flowers on poor soil, but is relatively flexible in terms of soil moisture.
How deep do irises need to be planted?
You should pay attention to the correct planting depth of the iris rhizomes, especially when planting new plants and when dividing them for propagation purposes. Don't plant them too deep in the ground, otherwise the leaf bases and flower stalks may rot. The correct planting depth is given when the upper end of the rhizomes is still slightly visible above the ground.
Is it worth growing irises from seed or are there other propagation methods?
Cultivation of the iris from seeds is basically possible and sometimes necessary for exotic and rare varieties. However, if you already have mature specimens in the garden, propagation by division is the quicker and less maintenance-intensive way. Remove the flowers at flowering time if you don't want the seeds to self-sow.
When is the flowering time of the iris?
The exact flowering time of the iris not only depends on the respective location, but also strongly on the respective subspecies. While some irises develop their flowers as early as April, others only bloom from June to July.
tips and tricks
Many iris species can hibernate outdoors without a special protective cover. Covering it with mulch (€239.00) can even be counterproductive because it can promote the development of rot on the plants due to constant moisture.