Bulb Irises / RHS Gardening

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Introducing...

Bulb irises

Growing irises from bulbs is easy and provides some of the earliest blooms in the garden; later flowering varieties compliment summer flowering plants. Whether in containers or in the open garden, they are hardy and provide colour year after year.

Looks

Early flowerers are diminutive plants with yellow, blue or white flowers. Summer varieties can have flowers in all colours. Unlike other irises, the bulbs have narrow, grassy leaves.

Likes

These irises grow in any soil that drains freely, in full sun at flowering time. Early types do well under deciduous trees and among shrubs that provide shelter in summer.

Dislikes

Like nearly all bulbs, these irises will not grow well in permanently wet or very heavy soil or in a permanently shaded situation.

Did you know?

Bulb irises can be treated as flowering houseplants. Grow them in containers outdoors or in a well-ventilated unheated greenhouse, then bring them inside when the buds start to open.

Growing guide

How to grow bulb irises

All the information you'll need to grow & care for bulb irises in your garden.

How to grow bulb irises

Bulb irises we recommend

Iris danfordiae

Danford iris

• Up to 10cm
• 0–0.1 metre

<em>Iris</em> <em>danfordiae</em>

Iris 'Gypsy Beauty' (Dut)

Dutch iris 'Gypsy Beauty'

• 0.5–1 metres
• 0.1–0.5 metres

<em>Iris</em> 'Gypsy Beauty' (Dut)

Iris histrioides 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'

iris 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'

• Up to 10cm
• 0–0.1 metre

<em>Iris</em> <em>histrioides</em> 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'

Iris danfordiae

Danford iris

• Up to 10cm
• 0–0.1 metre

<em>Iris</em> <em>danfordiae</em>

Iris 'Gypsy Beauty' (Dut)

Dutch iris 'Gypsy Beauty'

• 0.5–1 metres
• 0.1–0.5 metres

<em>Iris</em> 'Gypsy Beauty' (Dut)

Iris histrioides 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'

iris 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'

• Up to 10cm
• 0–0.1 metre

<em>Iris</em> <em>histrioides</em> 'Lady Beatrix Stanley'prevnext The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden. The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for thier garden.See all irises

Useful advice

Bulbs: propagation

Bulbs: propagation

Bulbs: planting

Bulbs: planting

Iris diseases

Iris diseases

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