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newbie question about bulb (iris) flowering time

18 years ago

Dear all,

I have dutch irises here that bloomed up very nicely with large yellow and purple flowers this spring. However I think the flowers only lasted between 2 to 3 weeks. And then the flowers started drying up, and are all now browned. That was pretty quick, I thought. It's reaching end of spring where I am. Is this normal? My neighbours seem to have longer bulb flowering times...I wonder what they do :)

I also have tulips that were flowering for up to a month, before the flowers dried up. It seems to me that the bulbs I have will only flower once, and once at the peak of its flowering time, and as flower dries up, no new flower stalks will grow...is this a normal behaviour?

Also, how do I dead head finished flowers? Do I cut just at the flower head, or the whole stalk? (the flower stalks for the iris still looks like and green...all the foliage is actually).

Lots and lots of thanks :)

Comment (1)

shrubs_n_bulbs
18 years ago
The bulbs you are talking about produce a flush of flowers and leaves in the spring and then become dormant. It is a response to mediterranean climates with winter/spring rains or snow melt and a very dry summer. Some of them bulbs experience very dry dark summers because of deciduous tree cover.

Some people just snip the very top of the flower and keep the stalk since it is green. Others remove the whole thing for tidiness.

There are other bulb-type plants you can consider to entend your season. Small bulbs like Crocus, Snowdrops, and Sconit flower very early. Bearded Iris can extend your Iris flower seasons. Other bulbs like Fritillaria , some of the Scillas, flower later in spring. Different types of tulips offer flowering over at least three months. Then there are late spring and summer "bulbs" like Lilies, Daylilies, Crocosmia, and Galdioli.
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