The Propagation of Walking Iris

Propagate a walking iris by dividing the root mass in the fall.

The walking iris is a species that produces fan-shaped leaf foliage and small, yellow or white colored blooms. Walking iris plants, also called the poor man's orchid or twelve apostles plant, grows best in a shaded garden area that has an evenly moist soil.

Identification

The walking iris is a herbaceous perennial that produces a clumping form. The plant grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones 10 and 11, where it reaches a height up to 36 inches.

Propagation

Propagation refers to the method used to create new plants from a mother plant. The best method of propagating the walking iris is to divide the root mass during the fall. It is possible to pull small plantlets from the tips of the flower stalks and plant them in a greenhouse environment to stimulate root production.

Process

Dig the entire walking iris root ball from the ground. Gently break apart the root clumps. Make sure there is a fan of leaf foliage attached to each divided root section.

Plant Use

The walking iris grows well in home landscapes as a border or edging plant. The upright leaf formation and interesting flower shape make the walking iris an ideal choice for mass planting.

Availability

Walking iris plants are not easy to find at garden stores and nurseries. The best method of obtaining a walking iris is to ask for plant divisions from a person who is growing this variety.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Walking Iris
• University of Florida: Stroll through the Garden with Walking Iris