Quick Facts
Exposure: Full Sun
Height at Maturity: Under 12 Inches
Usage: Flower Gardens
Shipped As: Bare-root
Planting Zones: 3-9
Product Details
Bearded iris plants for sale here are the classic Iris × germanica, with ruffled flowers and a fuzzy beard on the lower petals. We ship them bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for garden centers, landscapers, border plantings and wholesale buyers.
Bearded Iris Size, Zones and Sun
Plants grow 1 to 4 feet tall in clumps 1 to 2 feet wide. They're hardy in zones 3 to 9 and want full sun, ideally with air moving around the leaves. Drainage matters most, because standing water rots the base. Tall bearded types bloom in May and June, and some bloom again in fall.
Bearded Iris Flowers and Leaves
The fuzzy beard on the lower petals gives the plant its name. Bearded iris as a group comes in nearly every color, from white and cream to deep purple and near black. The leaves are stiff, sword-shaped fans that stay handsome after the flowers are gone.
Bearded Iris and Deer
Deer rarely touch iris, which makes it a safe pick for open lots and edges where browsing is a problem. Our iris garden guide walks through bed layout and design.
Where to Plant Bearded Iris
Sunny borders, raised beds, slopes and rock gardens all suit it, as long as water drains away. Plant in groups of three or more of one kind, about 18 inches apart, and the flowers read as a block of color. For ideas on what to plant alongside, see our best wholesale perennials for spring.
Planting Bearded Iris Bare-root
Plant shallow. In ordinary soil the top of the root should sit right at the surface, in light, fast-draining soil about 2 inches under, and in heavy clay slightly above. Point the leaf fans away from each other, skip the mulch on top, and water in once.
Buying Bearded Iris in Bulk
At 18-inch spacing a pack of 25 fills about 55 square feet, and 100 covers about 225. Plants ship bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, so you can size the order to the bed.
Good to Know About Bearded Iris
Iris borer is the main pest. Clean up old leaves in fall, cut off faded blooms and divide crowded clumps to keep it down. Crown and root rot can follow overwatering or a heavy mulch, so go easy on both.
Dividing Bearded Iris
Every 2 to 5 years, lift a crowded clump in late summer or early fall after it blooms, trim away damaged parts and replant the healthy pieces. It is a cheap way to stretch an order into more beds.
Bearded Iris Plant Sizes, Packs and Shipping
Bearded iris plants ship bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more wholesale perennials for sale.