Iris germanica Edith Wolford - Bearded Iris

Does your garden have a sunny area, sheltered from the wind, that is warm and rather dry in summer? This is the ideal location for planting tall irises! In the shade they will grow but do not flower.  Hardy, they do not need winter protection. Well-drained soil is perfect, even if it is rather dry. Iris germanica require an alkaline soil: amend your soil with lime if it tends to be acidic. Excessively wet soil promotes rhizome rot. Plant from July to September: this allows the rhizomes enough time to grow before being dug up, and to develop new roots before winter. For best results they should be planted as soon as they are purchased. Plan to divide irises every 4 years or so to give them fresh soil. They have vigorous growth and need space to develop and flower well. They should be planted with spacing appropriate to the size and vigour of the variety: approximately 34-50 cm (13-20in) for tall varieties (5 to 10 plants per square metre). In a monochrome planting, the rhizomes should be planted in a staggered pattern. When mixing colours it is recommended, for the overall aesthetic of the iris bed, to plant them in groups of several plants of the same variety. Always consider the direction of rhizome growth by arranging them in a star shape, with buds and leaves facing outward, and spacing them well in relation to other varieties so they have room to grow.

Planting:

Dig a hole sufficiently wide and deep. Make a large conical mound of soil in the hole, on which to place the rhizome and spread out the roots. Cover only the roots: it is important for the rhizome to be left just above the surface of the soil. It should not be planted in a depression (which risks it rotting), so anticipate that the soil will settle and the iris will sink. In clayey or wet soil, the rhizome can even be left elevated on a slight mound of a few centimeters. To make the soil adhere to the roots, lightly pack it and water thoroughly after planting. Water if necessary 2-3 times until the plant establishes.

Maintenance:

Keep the soil free of weeds by shallow hoeing, taking care not to damage the rhizomes or roots. Weeds shade the iris, retain moisture (causing rot), and attract slugs. Similarly, remove dry leaves. If they are diseased (reddish-brown spots of heterosporiosis), burn them. Remove faded flowers.