Siberian Iris Care: Information On When To Plant Siberian Iris And Its Care
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Occasional issue can occur, such as bacterial soft root. Slugs and snails may can cause damage, however, they too are not a persistent problem. Wear gloves when handling this plant as the sap can cause skin irritation.
Iris sibirica
Siberian Iris is an easy to grow, medium tall, clumping, low maintenance, versatile perennial that is native to Central and Eastern Europe. Its showy flowers, interesting seed pods and bluish green strappy foliage make this a wonderful specimen plant. Siberian Iris generally blooms in shades of bluish-purple; however some of its cultivars have been introduced in white, pink, orange, red, and yellow. The word iris translates to the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology. Through history, its blooms have been a symbol of monarchs and royal families. The flower’s shape is the inspiration for the french ‘fleur-de-lis’. Siberian Iris typically reaches a height of 2 feet, although some cultivars can be taller. Flowering profusely, clumps can produce 12 to 20 flowers.
It is a moisture loving plant, and will thrive near a stream or edge of a pond, wherever soil is evenly moist. Well established plants will tolerate some drought. Grow in full sun. Shade can have an effect on the plants performance. Too much shade may cause the plant to lay over and flowers to produce fewer blooms. In the southeast, protect from hot afternoon sun. Siberian Iris tolerates a wide variety of soils, but will perform best when grown in moist fertile, organically rich, slightly acidic, well drained soils. Divide the plants about every three years, or once the plants become over crowded and fewer blooms appear.
Growing from rhizomes that will spread, over time your iris will form a beautiful clump of blooms. They are perfect for cutting and including in an arrangement. When the clumps become too large, they can be easily divided. Remove the rhizomes from the garden by gently loosening the surrounding soil. Rocking the plant back and forth will help protect the rhizome from damage during removal. After cutting back to 6 to 8 inches, each clump can be cut with a sharp knife. Ensure that each division contains at least two fan division Plant each division, cover with 1 to 2 inches of soil and keep moist for 6 to 8 weeks. The best planting time for the southeast is fall. Plant in the spring in cooler winter areas. It may take more than one season for the plants to bloom, but planting in the fall will give them a head start. Siberian Iris bloom best after a cold period in winter. A lack of cold period may reduce blooms and the plant’s ability to produce new bulbs. In USDA hardiness 8b and above, warm winters may hinder these blooms. Until established, this plant prefers consistent moisture. It tolerates drought after it has been established in one or two seasons. This plant is less prone to pests and diseases of other Irises.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Occasional issue can occur, such as bacterial soft root. Slugs and snails may can cause damage, however, they too are not a persistent problem. Wear gloves when handling this plant as the sap can cause skin irritation.
- ‘Blueberry Fair’
Ruffled blue flowers. - ‘Blue Moon’
Violet-blue flowers. - ‘Butter and Sugar’
White and yellow flowers. - ‘Caesar’s Brother’
Height is over 3 feet and has deep purple flowers - ‘Contrast in Styles’
Purple standards and lighter blue purple styles. - ‘Fond Kiss’
White flowers with a pink flush. - ‘Granny Jean’
Mauve-pink flowers with darker veining and white at the base. - ‘Gull’s Wing’
White flowers. - ‘King of Kings’
White flowers - ‘Lavender Bounty’
Ruffled, lavender-pink flowers. - ‘Mission Bay’
Blue flowers. - ‘Over in Gloryland’
5″ deep-blue, ruffled flowers. - ‘Perry’s Blue’
Sky blue flowers with white markings. - ‘Ruffled Velvet’
Deep purple with yellow veins. - ‘Shirley Pope’
Large, flared deep purple/blue flowers. - ‘Silver Edge’
Clumping habit. Pale blue flowers with a silver edge. - ‘Sky Mirror’
Sky blue flowers with a yellow blaze. - ‘Strawberry Fair’
Ruffled, lavender-pink with magenta/pink and white signal edged in blue. - ‘Sultan’s Ruby’
Deep magenta flowers - ‘Super Ego’
Pale blue flowers with darker purple-blue falls. - ‘White Swirl’
Ivory-white, ruffled, rounded flowers with gold flush at the base. - ‘Wing on Wing’
White flowers
- ‘Blueberry Fair’
Ruffled blue flowers. - ‘Blue Moon’
Violet-blue flowers. - ‘Butter and Sugar’
White and yellow flowers. - ‘Caesar’s Brother’
Height is over 3 feet and has deep purple flowers - ‘Contrast in Styles’
Purple standards and lighter blue purple styles. - ‘Fond Kiss’
White flowers with a pink flush. - ‘Granny Jean’
Mauve-pink flowers with darker veining and white at the base. - ‘Gull’s Wing’
White flowers. - ‘King of Kings’
White flowers - ‘Lavender Bounty’
Ruffled, lavender-pink flowers. - ‘Mission Bay’
Blue flowers. - ‘Over in Gloryland’
5″ deep-blue, ruffled flowers. - ‘Perry’s Blue’
Sky blue flowers with white markings. - ‘Ruffled Velvet’
Deep purple with yellow veins. - ‘Shirley Pope’
Large, flared deep purple/blue flowers. - ‘Silver Edge’
Clumping habit. Pale blue flowers with a silver edge. - ‘Sky Mirror’
Sky blue flowers with a yellow blaze. - ‘Strawberry Fair’
Ruffled, lavender-pink with magenta/pink and white signal edged in blue. - ‘Sultan’s Ruby’
Deep magenta flowers - ‘Super Ego’
Pale blue flowers with darker purple-blue falls. - ‘White Swirl’
Ivory-white, ruffled, rounded flowers with gold flush at the base. - ‘Wing on Wing’
White flowers
- Attributes: Genus: Iris Species: sibirica Family: Iridaceae Life Cycle: Perennial Recommended Propagation Strategy: Division Country Or Region Of Origin: Hybrid of two Asian species Distribution: Central Europe,Russia, Japan, Korea Fire Risk Rating: low flammability Wildlife Value: Butterflies are attracted to the flowers. Play Value: Attractive Flowers Attracts Pollinators Buffer Colorful Easy to Grow Bulb Storage: Store in a cool dry location. Edibility: The rhizomes are not edible. Dimensions: Height: 2 ft. 0 in. – 4 ft. 0 in. Width: 2 ft. 6 in. – 3 ft. 0 in.
- Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Bulb Herbaceous Perennial Perennial Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous Habit/Form: Arching Clumping Erect Growth Rate: Rapid Maintenance: Low Texture: Medium
- Cultural Conditions: Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Soil pH: Acid ( <6.0) Neutral (6.0-8.0) Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Wet Available Space To Plant: 12 inches-3 feet NC Region: Coastal Mountains Piedmont USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
- Fruit: Fruit Type: Capsule
- Flowers: Flower Color: Blue Brown/Copper Gold/Yellow Orange Purple/Lavender Red/Burgundy White Flower Inflorescence: Head Solitary Flower Value To Gardener: Long Bloom Season Showy Flower Bloom Time: Spring Summer Flower Shape: Tubular Flower Petals: 2-3 rays/petals Flower Size: 1-3 inches Flower Description: The flowers have 2 pairs of petals consisting of 3 large outer sepals and 3 inner tepals. Siberian Iris are available in white, yellow, blue, wine, and purple. The soft looking flower bloom is divided into six sections, three upright petals (standards) and three lower outer petals (falls) which are beardless. The falls of the Siberian Iris are marked with white or gold flashes which begin from the inner petal and go to mid petal. The flowers tend to be smaller than those of bearded Iris varieties.
- Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous Leaf Color: Blue Green Leaf Value To Gardener: Showy Deciduous Leaf Fall Color: Brown/Copper Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Linear Leaf Margin: Entire Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: > 6 inches Leaf Width: < 1 inch Leaf Description: Ribbed grassy leaves can range from 10 to 30 inches long, while the width rarely exceeds 1 inch. Leaves grow at the base of the plant. The leaves are shorter than the flowers stems. Arching leaves form a vase-like clump of foliage
- Stem: Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Form: Straight Stem Description: The erect stems rise above the leaves and each can have 2 t0 5 flowers.
- Landscape: Landscape Location: Coastal Container Meadow Patio Pond Pool/Hardscape Slope/Bank Small Space Walkways Landscape Theme: Butterfly Garden Cottage Garden Cutting Garden Drought Tolerant Garden Pollinator Garden Rain Garden Rock Garden Design Feature: Accent Border Mass Planting Small groups Specimen Attracts: Bees Butterflies Pollinators Resistance To Challenges: Black Walnut Deer Diseases Drought Insect Pests Poor Soil Rabbits Wet Soil
- Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Low Poison Symptoms: Ingesting rhizome or root stock can cause stomach pain and vomiting. Contact with sap can cause skin irritation. Poison Toxic Principle: Unidentified, possibly a glycoside Causes Contact Dermatitis: Yes Poison Part: Roots Sap/Juice
Iris sibirica
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status.
Siberian Iris Care: Information On When To Plant Siberian Iris And Its Care
When growing Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), gardens will burst with early season color and intricate, frilly flowers. Planting Siberian iris en masse adds an elegant charm to the spring garden. Use these beautiful plants as a background border for other early spring bloomers.
How to Grow Siberian Iris
Learn how to grow Siberian iris for its lush, long-lasting blooms and low-maintenance, narrow foliage, which remains attractive after the blooms are spent. Easy Siberian iris care involves regular watering during the first year, limited fertilization and division of the clumps every three to five years. Through division and learning when to plant Siberian iris, you can ensure continuing blooms each year.
Smaller and less common than the spring blooming bearded iris, Siberian iris offers a reliable perennial bloom for many years. Blooms of this flower have three petals on top, with three drooping petals below, known as falls. Siberian iris plants can reach as little as 12 inches (.3 m.) in height or grow taller than 3 feet (1 m.).
Planting Siberian Iris
You may wonder when to plant Siberian iris to enjoy the frilly blooms in your garden. The Siberian iris is adaptable to a range of planting times. To enjoy the blooms most readily, plant Siberian iris gardens from corms in late summer or autumn. If fall planting time has passed you by, and in more northern areas, planting Siberian iris in spring is perfectly fine; just don’t expect blooms the same year. If you wish to add a few Siberian iris blooms to a container, you can plant them at any time.
Planting Siberian iris gardens is best done in a rich, fertile soil with good drainage; however, Siberian iris will perform in lean or poor soils as well. The rhizomatous or fibrous roots can be planted in full sun to partially shady areas.
Siberian Iris Care
Keep the soil consistently moist until the plants are established, about a year. Water the established plants regularly when drought conditions exist.
Feed Siberian iris plants in spring with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and fertilize again when blooms are spent.
This is the basis of Siberian iris care; they are rarely bothered by rots and borers as are the bearded iris.
When planting Siberian iris flowers, consider the color scheme you desire for your garden and choose from the wide variety of colors available in pinks, whites, blues and purples. While many types are found in purple, here are some others you might find interesting:
- ‘Butter and Sugar’ cultivar has white petals on top with yellow falls
- ‘Sultan’s Ruby’ offers deep magenta blooms
- ‘Wing on Wing’ and ‘King of Kings’ both have white blossoms
Numerous cultivars exist, so get creative with your color scheme when planning your Siberian iris gardens.