How to Grow Different Kinds of Iris

Most people have a picture that comes to mind when someone mentions the Iris. But did you know that there are many types of Iris? Some Irises are large, some small, some grow from bulbs, others from tubers, some like their feet wet while others like to be dry. Even different varieties have different flowers. Here is some information on how to grow different kinds of Iris in your garden.

Instructions

1. 

   Most often people think of the Iris in terms of the decorative Bearded Iris that comes in so many wonderful colors. This huge-flowered plant has been hybridized to offer almost any color or combination of colors combined with frills, spots, speckles, waves, and other blends of colors accompanied with a bright fuzzy bearded strip on each petal fall. These plants grow with creeping rhizomes, thick sword shaped leaves and long-stemmed flowers. Most Bearded Irises prefer sun, regular water and a good garden soil. They will tolerate a surprising range of conditions, however.

2. 

   The bulbous Dutch Iris grows narrow and thin with more delicate blooms. They are not long lived and most tend to bloom early in the spring, but they will form larger clusters of showy flowers over time. They, too, are easy to grow and prefer similar conditions to the Bearded Iris, also tolerating conditions that stray from the ideal. With bulb Iris plants, always wait for the foliage to die back naturally before removing it.

3. 

   Irises that enjoy bog conditions need to keep their roots moist and like acid soils. The Louisiana hybrids are native to the southern swamplands and they offer the widest range in color of all Irises. They also have the closest to a true red flower. You can grow these plants in the moist garden or as pond plants. Liking similar conditions, the Iris ensata or "Japanese Flag" have very large, orchid-like blooms that look flatter and more open than most Iris flowers. The Wild or Flag Iris grows in warm and cool climates alike and flowers in shades of blue and purple with central yellow blotches. And the Yellow Flag Iris loves to grow knee-deep in standing water.

4. Grow the Iris foetidissima for its brilliant scarlet seeds that glow brightly all winter after the seed pod splits open. The flowers are actually very decorative with ornate designing on each petal, but the flowers are mainly brown and green so they are very subtle. This one prefers light shade and moist soil.

5. Look for other beard-less Irises with the popular I. siberica, the I. spuria, and the Pacific-Siberians or the Chinese Siberian Irises that are all willing to grow in either dry or wet conditions. All make excellent cut flowers.

6. For showy foliage as well as big, soft blue flowers, try one of the Iris pallida varieties with yellow, cream or white prominent stripes on the foliage.

7. 

   There are more Iris varieties as well, but this will give you a good idea of the selection of some of the different kinds of Irises you can grow in your garden.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide
• Landscape design and gardening information