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Fourteen Favorites Among the Perennials: Iris

Notes on Iris Culture. One will find that irises have very definite, though very simple requirements.

The Sibirica, Orientalis, and Kaempferi groups prefer a rich, moist soil, low in lime content. It must be remembered, however, that although they revel in moisture during their growing season they cannot endure wet feet through the long winter months.

Practically all the other members of the rhizomatous group, the familiar bearded irises, require an open, sunny location and are very fond of lime. They abhor fresh animal manures; bone meal seems to be the fertilizer that is most to their liking. This may be applied in the autumn or in very early spring and should be worked lightly into the soil about the plants. Being very shallow-rooted, they respond wonderfully to liberal feeding. There is a diversity of opinion as to the best time to move iris. If the planting is done with care it may be safely attempted at almost any time from early spring through September, even when the plants are in bloom. As a general rule, however, transplanting is done immediately after the plant has flowered, as it is then that new root growth develops most naturally. Care must be taken not to plant the rhizomes too deeply. From one fourth to one half of the rhizome should be above the surface of the soil. Iris usually requires lifting and dividing every four or five years. Unless this is done the clumps begin to deteriorate through overcrowding and inferior blooms result.