Iris

Iris are one of the easiest perennial plants to grow, providing abundant beauty through the home landscape. Iris comes in a range of sizes from less than a foot tall to over three feet tall. Iris flowers come in almost every color of the rainbow, from white to dark purple to blue, and even multi colored. The name “Iris” is derived from the Greek word meaning “rainbow,” referring to the range of colors available. According to Greek mythology, whenever the gods wanted to communicate with mortals, their messenger was a golden-winged goddess named Iris who traveled on a rainbow. Legend has it that the colorful flowers sprang up at the end of the rainbow wherever she stepped. The iris is also featured in ancient Egyptian mythology and Christian history, with the fleur-de-lis being based on the shape of an iris bloom. Iris blooms are unique in their ruffled appearance; each bloom has six petals. Three petals called “standards” extend upwards while three called “falls” hang down. Iris are easy to grow, but they need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to thrive and bloom. Iris clumps need to be divided periodically, as they don’t bloom as much when crowded. Divide the iris in the fall every three to four years by removing several minor divisions or digging the entire clump and replanting a few rhizomes. Be careful not to plant them too deep, as iris rhizomes prefer to be on the soil surface. Because of their ease of division, Iris are among the most shared plants in the world.

 

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu