Do Iris Bloom Every Year?

Iris is a perennial flowering plant that blooms for many years. There are also reblooming irises. In general, flowers come in almost every color. They are huge and showy, and they bloom from March to May, depending on the cultivar. Irises can slow down or stop flowering or not bloom after being planted because of bad growing conditions. It’s also possible that a particular cultivar won’t bloom well in a certain place for unknown reasons. These are called “unknown bloomers.”

Dwarf beardless iris, flowers of the spring

Why My Irises Not Blooming?

They may not bloom for several reasons, such as not getting enough sunlight or not having enough space to grow, and not getting enough food. Many irises don’t bloom because the bulbs or rhizomes are not planted far enough down. If the bulb is planted too deep, the iris will grow greenery but not show any blooms, so that it won’t be beautiful. One year, an iris might not bloom at all. This could be because of the problems on this list or the type of plant.

Not Enough Sunlight

They need a sufficient amount of sunlight to fulfill their requirements. The spaces they grow in should be well-drained and have good soil nutrients so the plants can thrive. They also need plenty of water and fertilizer every few weeks, especially if temperatures go down during winter (especially if it’s below 80°F).

Too Much or Not Enough Water

The soil should be well-drained and have good nutrients, but it shouldn’t get too soggy or wet. If the water table gets too high during winter (especially if temperatures go down during this season), you can ruin your older bulbs.

Planted Too Deep

The soil should be good for your plants but still not too deep. During high summer temperatures (especially if it goes beyond 100°F), you can damage older bulbs buried in the ground as well. They will have problems taking water and nutrients from these soils, so they won’t reach their potential or grow properly until they are pulled up again.

Not Enough Space

The spaces irises are in do not need to be too big, just enough space. They can grow well in either pot or on the ground (especially if they have good drainage). Remember that you should always let them dry out before watering again so as much of the soil doesn’t dissolve into water and make your plant a cactus- A sure way for it to die.

Not Enough Fertilizer

Fertilizers should be applied at least once a week to keep them healthy. The fertilizers that contain phosphorus and potassium are best for improving flower bud production and bringing out their rich, intense colors. However, these fertilizers can have side effects on indoor plants since they adversely affect the plant’s roots and leaves after some time has passed.

Use a 5-10-10 split of low nitrogen fertilizer on your irises if you want them to thrive. Garden fertilizers that are commonly used can be used. As a fertilizer for irises, bone meal is a viable option. Put the fertilizer, not on the bulb or rhizome. Before blooming, it is best to fertilize your plants with a slow-release fertilizer.

What are Irises that Rebloom?

It’s possible to find reblooming iris in both beardless and bearded varieties.

‘Rebloomers’– They can produce more than one bloom stalk during a single growing season.

‘Cycle Rebloomers’-These plants undergo two distinct growth cycles during a single growing season. To produce bloom stalks, a second new increase does not require a chilling period and generally occurs in late summer and autumn.

‘Repeaters’– They start making more bloom stalks on old-growth right after they start making spring blooms.

‘All Season Rebloomers’– They can grow flower stalks throughout the year. They don’t bloom simultaneously every day, but the soil temperature does.

Bearded and Beardless Irises

Purple flower of beardless Caucasian iris illuminated by the sun on a background of green foliage

Beardless Irises

Siberian Irises- The most well-known and commonly found form of reblooming irises is the Siberian Iris. These are wonderful plants for a meadow in large amounts, especially when they bloom.

Japanese Irises- are a hardy selection of the rhizomatous iris type and will often fill up flower beds with great foliage. Seldom do they bloom, but some older specimens can turn bright yellow or mauve in blooming.

Louisiana Irises- come from the South and have rich long petals that become darker, almost black at their edges when in bloom. They are very tall with large foliage, though quite hardy for a rhizomatous multipurpose plant.

April Irises – These Iris bloom in early spring and will often be used for decorative purposes. Though dense and deeply chalice-shaped lanceolate bell flowering white flowers, the blooms are small.

Beautiful bearded iris in a garden with out of focus background

Bearded Irises

Miniature Dwarf Bearded Iris – is another species of Iris that can be found for sale in nurseries. It usually blooms in late winter or early spring and has medium-sized, dark green leaves.

Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris – is a smaller variety that blooms in the spring and has dark, lance-shaped leaves.

Beardless Iris – is the most widely available. Beardless Iris has a variable range of colors with shades ranging from blue to purple, white, or yellow and can reach heights up to four feet (120 cm) tall. The foliage is generally gray-green and small at 1 inch (2.5cm).

Intermediate Bearded Iris – is a later blooming variety that occurs in the late spring and early summer. It has large grandiose foliage (2″–4″) and single, drooping flowers with 5-lobed greenish-yellow to reddish-purple centers covered heavily with hairs or spines which may be lightly scented. They are rarely seen due to their recent evolution compared to other bearded irises. However, they have been dubbed “the most beautiful iris” and are becoming more available. They can bear five flowers or more at a time, with their buds turning orange-brown before opening up to large bell-shaped violet iridescent flowers, often referred to as “toad lilies.”

Miniatured Bearded Iris – can be grown in containers and is a slow grower. This variety produces clusters of tiny green buds in the spring, which later open into small flower patches with pink or purple flowers.

Border Bearded Iris – blooms in the late spring and early summer. The large, compact foliage is typically shiny green. Small yellowish-green to dark purple flowers are complemented by very small spotted white petals on each bloom.”

Tall Bearded Iris – is a larger, later flowering variety with orange or purple shades of color. The foliage has wavy edges, and flowers can be up to 36 inches (92 cm) tall.”