'Christmas Time' (Schreiner, R. 1964). Seedling T-43-A. TB, 41" (104 cm). Midseason bloom. Color Class W1, Pure white self; red-tangerine beard. White sport of 'May Hall' X 'Arctic Flame'. Schreiner 1965. Award of Merit 1968.
I love Iris!!! I have a lot! Need to sell so I can buy more.
So easy to grow. I started buying because they were easy to grow in not to great soil. I have steep hills around my property and have many Iris planted in not great soil. I have found that Rhizome size really does not determine how well they will bloom. Different types of Iris , Different parts of the country, different soils etc determine the size of Rhizomes, but blooms seem to be the same. They are deer and drought resistant. Deer will mess with newly planted Iris , but after they figure out that they don't like it, they leave them alone.
I am selling Iris from my garden. Pictures are from my garden. I will include extras of my choice for those who buy more than 5, and the number of extras will be determined how many Iris a person buys per order.
This is a pre-sale, meaning I am selling is shipping starting in July. Iris need time to rest after blooming. I will ship in order of date purchased. If you have a preference as to when you want me to ship, please contact me.
Shipping is $8.00 for the first Iris purchased and $1.00 shipping/handling for each additional . As the more Iris you buy climbs I will use USPS Flat Rate Medium $16, and Large $21 I think I can get at least 25 Rhizomes in a Large depending on sizes of Rhizomes and extras I throw in.
Please try to buy as many as you want and request shipping total . I will do my best to give you best price.
I will send Iris labeled , trimmed, sanitized, and dried. If what you buy is mistakenly mis labeled, I will guarantee to send you replacement. . I have been selling on ebay for many years , so I will be here if there is a problem. Read my feedback, I am known as a very honest seller.
Instructions below are mostly copied, but there are many great instructions by searching the web.
Irises
will bloom best in full sun, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of
sunlight per day. They can tolerate as little as half a day of sun,
but it’s not ideal. Without enough light, they won’t bloom well.
Bearded irises must not be shaded out by other plants; many do best
in a special bed on their own.
Provide well-draining,
fertile, neutral to slightly acidic soil. Loosen soil to a depth of
12 to 15 inches, then mix in compost or aged manure. Good drainage is
critical: Irises prefer “wet feet, but dry knees.” They will not
tolerate wet soil in winter. Learn more about preparing soil for
planting and organic soil amendments.
When to Plant
Irises
Plant most irises in late summer to early fall,
when nighttime temperatures remain between 40° and 50°F (4° and
10°C) or above. This gives them plenty of time to get established
before the coming winter.
Tall bearded iris varieties are best
planted closer to fall because they tend to go dormant in early to
mid-summer.
If you receive bare rhizomes or irises in a
container at some point earlier in the year, go ahead and plant them
as soon as convenient. It’s better to get them in the ground rather
than wait until the “ideal” time.
How to Plant Irises
Plant
bare-root rhizomes (the thick stems) horizontally, with the top
exposed and only the roots underground. In areas with particularly
hot summers, set the rhizome just below the soil surface.
Dig a
hole 10 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep. Make a ridge of soil
down the middle and place the rhizome on the ridge, spreading the
roots down both sides. Fill in the hole and firm it gently, leaving
part of the rhizome and the foliage uncovered.
Plant singly or
in groups of three, 1 to 2 feet apart, depending on the fully grown
plant’s size.
Soak Siberian iris rhizomes in water overnight
before planting, then set them 1 inch deep (2 inches, if the soil is
sandy), 2 feet apart. Over a period of years, they will form clumps;
divide when blooms get smaller and vigor declines.
Do not mulch
around the rhizome, as this may encourage rot.
Water
thoroughly.
Striped iris flower
GROWING
How to
Grow Irises
In the early spring, remove winter mulch and any old
foliage to allow for fresh, new growth.
Fertilize in early
spring, scratching an all-purpose low nitrogen fertilizer ,
around the plants. More is not better!! Be VERY careful
not to fertilize too much. I actually use al-alpha pellets
Re-blooming irises perform best if fertilized again after the first
wave of flowering is finished.
Do not over water irises; too
much moisture in the soil can cause the rhizomes to rot. Water
consistently and deeply, especially during summer drought.
Keep
rhizomes exposed. Unlike bulbs, which thrive deep underground,
bearded iris rhizomes need a bit of sun and air to dry them out. If
they’re covered with soil or crowded by other plants, they’ll
rot.
Taller irises may need staking, or they will fall
over.
Deadhead (remove spent blooms) consistently. Bearded
Irises flower sequentially on buds spaced along the stems.
After
blooming is finished, cut flower stems down to their base to
discourage rhizome rot, but do NOT trim the iris’ leaves. The
plant’s foliage carries on with photosynthesis and generates energy
for next year’s growth and flowers. Only prune off brown leaf tips,
if desired.
After a hard frost in the fall, cut foliage back
hard, remove any foliage that appears spotted or yellowed, and
dispose of all debris in the trash.
If iris foliage is hit with
heavy frost, remove and destroy it to eliminate borer eggs. See your
local frost dates.
For winter protection, cover the rhizomes
with an inch or two of sand topped with a light layer of evergreen
boughs, applied after the ground freezes and removed when the
forsythias bloom in the following spring.
Iris borer, a common
iris pest, overwinters as eggs in spent leaves. Signs include
vertical streaks in the leaves. If apparent, look for the pests and
squash them! If you see rot in the rhizome, dig it up and remove the
affected parts. See pest tips below.
Dividing Irises
Over
time, it’s not unusual for plantings of iris to become overcrowded,
which causes the rhizomes to lose vitality and stop blooming. When
this happens (usually every 2 to 5 years), it’s time to divide and
replant healthy rhizomes in fresh soil.