Are Standard Dwarf Bearded Irises Found in the Wild?

Dwarf Bearded Iris

• Standard dwarf bearded irises grow to heights of between 8 and 15 inches. They bloom in colors ranging from blue, purple, red, white and yellow to bi-color. While they generally bloom in the spring, some varieties produce a second bloom in summer or fall. The shorter varieties bloom first, and darker-colored blooms may fade if planted where they receive too much sunlight.

Cultivation

• North Carolina State University says that success with bearded irises hinges on keeping the rhizomes, or fleshy root bulbs, well-drained. They recommend planting them at or slightly above the soil line to keep them from rotting. For spring-flowering varieties, keep the soil moist until they bloom. After blooms fade, cut the stems back to 1 or 2 inches above the rhizome and reduce watering. Spring- and summer-flowering types should be watered frequently all summer long.

Varieties

• There are thousands of standard dwarf bearded irises to choose from. Some spring-blooming varieties include "Watercolor," which has yellow upright petals with brown falls. "Software" has creamy pink petals edged in apricot. Repeat-blooming varieties are also available. "Jewel Baby" is deep purple, while "Baby Blessed" is a pale yellow.

Native Irises

• Even though bearded irises aren't native to the US, you do have options for planting them. Called the Louisiana irises, they are a group of beardless irises first discovered by James Audubon in the 1820s. The group includes five species: Iris hexagona, I. fulva, I. brevicaulis, I. giganticaerulea, I. nelsonii and their natural hybrids. As a group, they are less susceptible to rhizome rot than bearded irises and tend to be hardier.