Dwarf bearded iris

Questions about dwarf bearded iris

Does dwarf bearded iris need sun or shade?

Dwarf bearded iris grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day).

It wants dry, sharply drained soil, of average fertility, and little watering once settled.

What zones does dwarf bearded iris grow in?

USDA zones 3 to 9. It is hardy to zone 3, which means it survives winter nights down to about −30 °F (−34 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does dwarf bearded iris flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers late April to mid May. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should dwarf bearded iris be planted?

10 in (25 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 12 in (30 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 8 in (20 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many dwarf bearded iris plants do I need?

At 10 in apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 17 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 13 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 55 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as runs of three or five along the front (or one even row, in a formal bed).

In the bed above, the planner used eight in two groups.

Is dwarf bearded iris poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to people, dogs, cats and horses. The underground stems (rhizomes) and leaves can cause drooling and stomach upset if eaten.

Rated from the ASPCA. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like dwarf bearded iris?

These come closest to doing what dwarf bearded iris does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Carpathian bellflower 'Blue Clips': the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late June to late August, blue, not purple.
• Balloon flower 'Sentimental Blue': the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers early July to late August, blue, not purple.
• Sea thrift: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers early May to mid June, pink or white, not purple.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

What flowers after dwarf bearded iris?

Dwarf bearded iris is over by mid May. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Sea thrift: from early May to mid June, 8 in tall (a recorded partner).
• Creeping thyme: from early June to mid July, 3 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Lady's mantle: from late May to early July, 18 in tall.

What does dwarf bearded iris look like in winter?

Dwarf bearded iris holds some of its leaves into winter, more in a mild year or a sheltered spot, and they look tired by March. Cut the old ones off as new growth starts.