Category: Uncategorized

Newscast-Bray

2024-CIS-Calendar-of-Events

The following is derived from information on The American Iris Society (AIS) website at www.irises.org. The AIS divides irises most often used as garden plants into three main groups: Bearded Irises, Aril Irises and Beardless Irises.

Beardless Irises normally bloom after Tall Bearded Iris (except for the Pacific Coast Native which blooms before the TBs). There are 6 types of irises classified as Beardless Iris: Spurias, Siberians, Japanese, Louisianas, Pacific Coast Natives and Species. Because the majority of these bloom after the TBs, they often extend the iris season in the garden.

1. Spurias (SPU) are between 2 and 5 feet tall and very elegant-looking. The bloom shape is often like an orchid. Spurias come in many colors and often have a bright yellow signal.

2. Siberians (SIB) come in multiple colors: blue, purple, red-violet, yellow, brown and orange. They prefer cooler temperatures, moisture and like a slightly acidic soil. Their blooms can be upright or round and flat. They look best when grown in clumps at a height of 2 to 4 feet. They usually bloom right after the TBs and their grass-like foliage is an attractive garden feature.

3. Japanese (JI) iris also prefer slightly acidic soil. Their blooms are gorgeous – huge, ruffled and flat. Japanese bloom about a month after TBs.

4. Louisianas (LA) are native to the U.S. Gulf Coast area. They perform best in somewhat acid soil and prefer to be wet in the spring. Blooms have brightly colored style-arms and also signal-crests; they are usually wide open.

5. Pacific Coast Natives (PCN) are normally grown in the far western part of the U.S only due to climatic conditions. They are usually one to two feet tall and are graceful, dainty flowers.

6. Species iris have 2 classifications: I. confusa and I. missouriensis. The latter prefer wet springs and dry summers; we often refer to them as Blue Flag or Rocky Mountain iris. The former want conditions similar to azaleas in a frost free climate.

The following is derived from information on The American Iris Society (AIS) website at www.irises.org. The AIS divides irises most often used as garden plants into three main groups: Bearded Irises, Aril Irises and Beardless Irises.

Aril irises include oncocyclus and regelia irises of the Near East. Both types have beards; however, they are not classified as bearded irises, their beards are sparse. Beards on regelias are long and straggly. Beards on oncocyclus are more like a “fuzzy” patch. Arils have a dark spot below the beards, called signal spots, there is a lot of veining and speckling in a large range of colors.

Arils are normally found in only the warmest and driest regions of the U.S. A hybrid called arilbred was produced by crossing arils with bearded irises. Arilbreds are easier to grow here and still have the features of an aril. Most are tall with large blooms that bloom with the SDBs and the IBs (earlier than TBs).

Smaller arilbreds have also been produced by crossing arils or arilbreds with dwarf or median bearded irises.

The following is derived from information on The American Iris Society (AIS) website at www.irises.org. The AIS divides irises most often used as garden plants into three main groups: Bearded Irises, Aril Irises and Beardless Irises.

Bearded Irises are identified by thick, bushy “beards” on each of the falls (lower petals) of the blossoms. Originally, most of these were native to central and southern Europe. The American Iris Society has further divided bearded irises into six groups for judging awards.

1. Miniature Dwarf Bearded (MDB) are the smallest irises, with height up to 8 inches. They are also the earliest to bloom. They are most effective in rock gardens or planted in drifts where they make a “carpet of color.”

2. Standard Dwarf Bearded (SDB) irises range in height from 8 to 16 inches. They begin to bloom as the MDBs are ending, still quite early in the iris season. They are best displayed in clumps. Their colors are nearly unlimited.

3. Intermediate Bearded (IB) irises are 16 – 27 1/2 inches tall. Their bloom season overlaps the SDBs and the TBs. IBs are large enough that their individual stalks may branch, forming an elegant bouquet. They display a large amount of color and color patterns.

4. Border Bearded (BB) irises are essentially small versions of Tall Bearded irises. They are the same height as IBs and their bloom size is the same.

5. Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) irises look more dainty and delicate. The blooms are even smaller than on the Border Bearded and their stems are thinner. MTBs are also from 16 to 27 1/2 inches in height. Miniature Tall Bearded irises are also called “table irises” as they often used in flower arrangements.

6. Tall Bearded (TB) irises are a minimum of 27 1/2 inches tall. Many TBs can reach heights of 40 inches or more. TBs branch and have numerous buds. Tall Bearded irises come in a wide variety of colors and patterns; some display ruffles or lacy edgings.

By Carrie Winter

So your tall bearded irises simply did not bloom well this year, despite having produced many bloom in previous years . . . What’s the problem?  If the clumps have been in place three or more years, it’s time to dig, divide and replant.

The ideal time to dig is when the rhizome (actually an enlarged stem, but often called bulb, tuber or root by non-Master Gardeners) is fully mature and on the brink of summer dormancy.  That time for the Charlotte, NC, area is July, not the most pleasant time for digging in the garden.  However, since the rhizomes are growing near the soil surface, a clump is really quite easy to dig with a garden fork or shovel.  Simply slide the fork or shovel under the clump, raise it up, and place the clump in a tub or on a plastic sheet.  If you are digging more than one variety, it is important to keep them separate and properly labeled.

Remove the soil from the rhizomes and, with your hands or a knife, separate the clump into individual rhizomes with a fan of foliage.  Examine each of the fans or divisions carefully for evidence of disease, especially rot.  Discard these and the “mother” rhizome of the clump, saving all the young and healthy rhizomes.  Trim the foliage of the fans to be saved into an inverted vee about six inches high.

At this point, the trimmed rhizomes can be washed, drained and dipped into a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach, rinsed and drained again.  The rhizomes should then be allowed to dry in shade that is open and dry.  Most home gardeners generally omit the washing and rinsing steps.  Rhizomes may be left out of the ground for up to several weeks, if necessary.

Now you are ready to replant.  Before the dig or while the rhizomes have been drying out, the replanting area should be prepared.  Your site should be well drained and receive at least six hours of full sun for maximum bloom.  Dig the area to a depth of 10-12 inches and add soil conditioner, low nitrogen fertilizer and a dash of superphosphate.  Lime is typically a useful and often necessary additive to Mecklenburg County clay to achieve a pH of 6.1-7.2.  Work in the additives carefully so that none of the fertilizers will rest on the rhizomes.

The rhizomes of tall bearded iris should be placed 12-18 inches apart.  If you have 3 rhizomes of the same variety, you may want to plant them in a triangle to achieve an immediate clump effect.  The toe of each of the rhizomes should point to the center of the triangle.  Each rhizome should be planted horizontally on a slight ridge so that the roots can spread out on both sides of the ridge.  Cover the rhizome while leaving the upper surface of the rhizome exposed to the sun.  Secure the roots in the soil and water well for the first week or two while a good root system develops.  After that time, watering of bearded irises in the Charlotte, NC area should not be necessary, making them an ideal plant for water conservation during our hot, dry summers. 

• The American Iris Society (AIS) hosts webinars relating to iris.  View video recordings of these webinars on YouTube.  Topics include:
  • Growing Iris Basics
  • Novelty Iris
  • Louisiana Iris
  • Managing Pests and Weeds
• To access these YouTube recordings:
  • Type YouTube.com into your Search Engine.
  • In the Search Box at the top of the YouTube channel, type in American Iris Society Webinars.
  • Scroll through the various webinars to select one you wish to view.

OR

• Go to The American Iris Society website.
• Click on Resources in the Menu Bar.
• Choose Webinars – AIS YouTube Channel.