Bearded Iris – The Perfect Cut Flower for Your Home

Bearded iris are one of the most stunning cut flowers you can grow in your garden. Known for their showy, ruffled blooms in a rainbow of colors, bearded iris have long been a favorite of floral designers and gardeners alike. As cut flowers, iris have a vase life of 5-7 days if cared for properly, and make a bold statement in arrangements. Read on to learn why bearded iris are ideal cut flowers, tips for growing and cutting your own, and how to arrange them for maximum impact.

Why Choose Bearded Iris for Cutting?

There are many reasons bearded iris are an excellent choice as a cut flower:

• Long vase life – If harvested and cared for correctly, cut bearded iris blooms will last 5-7 days or more in a vase The tightly packed buds along the stem continue opening over time, providing a long display of color.

• Striking flowers – With ruffled, crepe-like petals in stunning colors including purple, yellow, white, pink, red and bi-colors, iris blooms make a big visual impact in arrangements The unique bearded iris form is distinctive

• Fragrance – Many bearded iris are delightfully fragrant, filling your home with a lovely scent when used in arrangements.

• Abundant blooms – Each bearded iris plant produces multiple flower stalks, each with 3-5 buds. This provides many stems for cutting over a bloom season.

• Long bloom season – Bearded iris have a bloom time of 4-6 weeks, usually beginning in late spring. Different iris varieties have early, mid and late bloom times, extending the cutting season.

• Easy care – Bearded iris are easy to grow in most climates, have few pests, and require minimal care once established. This makes homegrown cut flowers accessible for beginner and expert gardeners alike.

• Variety – With thousands of bearded iris varieties to choose from in nearly every color imaginable, it’s easy to find ones perfect for your cutting garden. Mix heights, colors and bloom times for constant cut flowers.

• Cost effective – Growing your own bearded iris for cutting allows you to have gorgeous floral arrangements at a fraction of the cost of buying cut flowers.

Growing Bearded Iris for Cut Flowers

To have the best cut flowers, it’s important to select bearded iris varieties suited for cutting and grow them under the right conditions. Here are some tips:

• Choose types with long, sturdy stalks – Look for tall bearded iris varieties over shorter types, as they produce longer, stronger stems for cutting. Select cultivars described as having good stem strength and vigorous growth.

• Plant in full sun – Bearded iris need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day to thrive. This will produce the healthiest plants with the most blooms for cutting.

• Provide good drainage – Bearded iris hate wet feet! Make sure your soil drains well to prevent rotting. Amend clay soils with compost to improve drainage.

• Use fertilizer – Fertilizing your iris regularly with a balanced fertilizer will fuel growth and maximize blooms. Use one formulated for bulbs.

• Divide clumps every 3-4 years – Bearded iris should be divided when they become overcrowded to maintain vigor. This prevents bloom decline.

• Water during drought – Consistent moisture is important for bearded iris. Water deeply if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.

• Cut for arrangements – Cut blooms once they are fully open. Leaving some to mature on the plants will allow you to enjoy them in the garden too.

• Add early, mid and late varieties – To extend your cutting season, grow a selection of bearded iris varieties with different bloom times.

Harvesting and Arranging Bearded Iris

Follow these steps for cutting and arranging bearded iris:

• Cut in the morning – For maximum vase life, cut bearded iris stems early in the morning while still turgid. Use a clean, sharp knife or garden shears.

• Cut at an angle – This increases the amount of stem surface that can take up water. Make your cut above the first set of leaves.

• Strip excess leaves – Leaves below the waterline will rot, so strip them off. Leave some leaves at the top to maintain photosynthesis and bloom opening.

• Use a tall, clean vase – Pick a vase that allows ample water uptake and won’t crowd the stems. Cut 2-3 inches off the bottom of the stems and place immediately in lukewarm water.

• Use floral preservative – This contains sugars to nourish the blooms and inhibit bacterial growth. Change the water and recut stems every 2-3 days.

• Display out of direct sun – Bright light causes iris blooms to fade. Keep your arrangement in a reasonably cool, shady spot for longest enjoyment.

• Include different colors and varieties – Mixing bearded iris of different heights, colors and bloom forms creates appealing contrast.

• Add filler and greens – Bearded iris look fabulous paired with greenery like hosta leaves or herbs like lavender or rosemary.

• Refresh as needed – Monitor your arrangement and replace faded blooms with freshly opened ones from the garden.

With their stunning colors, unique forms and long vase life, it’s no wonder bearded iris have been a favorite cutting flower since Victorian times. By growing specialized cut flower varieties and caring for them properly from garden to vase, you’ll be rewarded with affordable, artful arrangements no florist could match. Let beautiful bearded iris cut flowers grace your home this season!