How to Plant Siberian Iris
Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica) is a moisture-loving member of the 300-member iris family. Easy to grow and typically free from disease and pests, Siberians are beardless and graceful as they unwind their delicate flowers from tall, spiked foliage each spring. Their roots, or rhizomes, are fibrous and hair-like, distinctly different from the fat, knobby roots of their iris cousins. Siberians won't bloom for at least a year post-planting, but they'll provide years of colorful display for your flower or bog garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Put your Siberian iris roots in a small pot of water to keep them wet while preparing their new home in your garden. Make sure the water covers the roots completely.
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Find a sunny or lightly shaded area that is fertile, loamy and open to winter moisture and spring rains. A wetland, bog or moist streamside area is ideal. For best visual impact, plan to place up to three Siberian iris plants in clusters 18 inches apart. The roots will spread over time.
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Dig three holes about three inches deep in a circle about six inches in diameter. This will be your first Siberian iris cluster. Make sure the soil in the hole is wet. Add a splash of water, if necessary.
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Place one Siberian iris into each hole, making sure the root-top -- the point where the root meets the green foliage -- is at least two inches beneath the surface.
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Cover the roots completely and tamp the soil gently around each plant. Water the new plant again if the soil is dry. Do not fertilize until the plant blooms.
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Continue planting in clusters of three plants until all of your Siberian irises are planted. Lay a mound of mulch about three inches deep around each planting. This will help keep weeds out and hold moisture in.
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Check the plantings daily to ensure the soil remains moist while the plants are settling in. Water your plants regularly, especially in hot weather.
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Allow the green foliage to continue growing even after the blooms have died away. You may clip them in the fall. Many gardeners leave them in place until new growth appears in the spring.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're obtaining plants by dividing established Siberian iris beds, you can plant extra roots in containers and pots for transplanting the following year. Keep the pots well-watered.
