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Fabulous Reblooming Bearded Irises

Bearded Irises, Tall Bearded Irises, Intermediate Bearded Irises, Miniature Tall Bearded Irises, Border Bearded Irises, Miniature Dwarf Bearded Irises, Standard Dwarf Bearded Irises

Reblooming Bearded Irises, Tall Reblooming Bearded Irises, Reblooming Intermediate Bearded Irises, Reblooming Miniature Tall Bearded Irises, Reblooming Border Bearded Irises, Reblooming Miniature Dwarf Bearded Irises, Reblooming Standard Dwarf Bearded Irises

Acclaimed for their glamorous flowers gracing the garden in spring or early summer, some bearded iris varieties rebloom again in late summer or fall, offering us the pleasure of, once more, enjoying more of their colorful ruffles and mind-blowing flowers. As an added bonus, many reblooming irises bear sweetly fragrant flowers.

What are Reblooming Irises?

Reblooming irises are found in both beardless irises (Siberian Irises, Japanese Irises, Louisaina Irises or Aril Irises) and bearded irises (Miniature dwarf bearded, Standard dwarf bearded, Intermediate bearded, Miniature bearded, Border bearded, Tall bearded).
There are different types of reblooming irises.

  • Rebloomers‘ (or ‘Remontants”): they produce more than one crop of bloom stalks in a single growing season.
  • ​’Cycle Rebloomers‘: they complete two distinct cycles of growth, blossoming and increasing in any one growing season. The second new increase does not require any chilling period to produce bloom stalks and generally occurs in late summer and (or) fall.
  • Repeaters‘: they produce additional bloom stalks on old growth immediately following the initial production of spring bloom. These iris varieties frequently extend their spring bloom season from 4 to 8 weeks.
  • All Season Rebloomers‘: they can send up bloom stalks throughout the growing season. Their bloom time is not controlled by day length but by soil temperatures.

Is Reblooming guaranteed?

  • Remontancy is not guaranteed and can depend on your geographic location, climate, and cultural conditions. However, do not give up if you don’t get your reblooming irises to rebloom the first year. Some varieties need to grow into a sizable clump and acclimate for a few years before they rebloom well.
  • Rebloom usually occurs between September and late fall (zone 5), in October (zone 6), in July (zone 7), in August or September (zone 8), and in September and later (zone 9). However, note that hot summer nighttime temperatures can trigger dormancy, as does frigid winter temperatures.
  • Rebloom can also depend on your cultural conditions. While worth the extra effort, reblooming irises take a little more care than the once-bloomers. They like a little more fertilizer and water since they need an extra boost to flower again (you don’t want to let them go dormant). You should fertilize them in early spring and again after spring blooms. Use a fertilizer with a fairly low Nitrogen content, such as 5-10-5, mixed 50/50 with superphosphate (0-45-0). Water your irises at least once every other week if the rainfall is insufficient so they don’t dry out completely.

Tips:

  • You may want to grow your reblooming irises together or mark them in some way since the once bloomers may rot with the extra water and fertilizing.
  • Since most rebloomers increase faster than once bloomers, you may need to separate and replant them every second or third year. Since some cultivars need to be well established before they rebloom, you should divide and reset half of the clump and leave the rest to rebloom.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Iris germanica
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Late)
Fall
Height
Spread
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Landscaping Ideas Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Fabulous Reblooming Bearded Irises

Growing Tips

Reblooming bearded irises are generally easy to grow and provide a lot of colors. Here are the steps to grow reblooming bearded irises:

Select the Right Spot: Irises need full sun for at least six hours a day, although they will tolerate partial shade. The soil should be well-drained as irises do not like to have ‘wet feet’. If you have heavy clay soil, consider amending it with compost or planting the irises in raised beds.

Planting: The best time to plant irises is in the late summer or early fall, about 4-6 weeks before the first hard frost. Dig a shallow hole about 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter and 4 inches (10 cm) deep. Make a small mound in the center of the hole and place the rhizome on the mound, spreading the roots down the sides. The top of the rhizome should be at or just below the surface of the soil. Backfill the hole and firm the soil gently.

Watering: Water thoroughly at planting time. After that, watering needs will vary, but generally, once a week is sufficient. Irises are drought tolerant, but during dry spells, they will appreciate extra water.

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced granular fertilizer in early spring and after the first bloom. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers as they can encourage rot and lush foliage at the expense of blooms.

Pruning and Maintenance: After the first bloom, remove the spent flower stalks. In the fall, trim the leaves back to about 6 inches (15 cm). If the clumps become overcrowded, they may stop reblooming. If this happens, divide the irises in late summer or early fall.

Winter Care: In colder climates, you may want to mulch around the plants to protect them from harsh winter weather, but be careful not to cover the rhizomes as they could rot.

Watch for Pests and Diseases: The most common problems are iris borers and bacterial soft rot. Inspect the plants regularly and take action at the first sign of trouble. With borers, remove and destroy affected parts. For rot, cut out the rotted tissue and treat the plant with a fungicide.

Encourage Reblooming: To encourage your irises to rebloom, keep them well-watered and fed, and promptly remove spent blooms. Also, because reblooming irises can bloom late into the fall, protect them from early frosts to extend their bloom time.

Remember that not all bearded irises are rebloomers, and even those that are may not rebloom every year. It can depend on the weather and growing conditions. But with good care, you can increase the chances of getting that extra show of color.

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Delightfully Fragrant Bearded Irises
How to Extend The Blooming Season of Your Tall Bearded Irises
Irises: How to Grow and Care with Success
Iris ensata (Japanese Iris)
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris)
Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)

Garden Examples

An Eye-Catching Spring Border with Irises, Foxgloves and Poppies
A Refreshing Summer Border Idea with Irises, Alliums, Catmint and Grasses
A Pretty Summer Border Idea with Irises, Astrantia and Grasses
A Pretty Summer Border Idea with Irises, Mullein and Sage
A Glowing Summer Border Idea with Irises, Alliums, Catmint and Sage
A Lovely Spring Border Idea with Peonies and Irises
Compare All Iris germanica (Bearded Iris)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Genus Iris germanica
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Late)
Fall
Height
Spread
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Landscaping Ideas Wall-Side Borders, Beds And Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
Compare All Iris germanica (Bearded Iris)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Iris germanica (Bearded Iris)

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