I agree with the premises underlying your question. I think it comes down to demand. My guess is that more people grow daylilies -- esp. in the south, where humid, wet conditions would be more of a problem for iris. That's my best guess. By the way, many, if not most, daylily intros come down to the $20-40 range within a few years, when I buy them.

In general, I have found the German bearded iris to do really great two years after planting, then there is a decline.

Is it true they only bloom from the side shoots, and the original does not bloom again?

If so, that would mean I have to divide them more frequently.

One of the truly great things about hems is their ability to bloom without division. Many other perennials do the die in the center thing.

I bought a box of 25 different iris for $70, they were all fairly new. I WISH I could do that with hems!.

I will have to see in future years whether or not the iris will have to be divided. Japanese iris form nice large clumps that continue to bloom.

I've noticed the same thing with the pricing of tall bearded irises, but I don't know enough about the hybridizing and cultivation of them to compare the prices to that of hems. I purchased a new intro last year for $10 -- you can't beat that!

Granted, irises are sold by single rhizomes, but they sure have increased faster than my daylilies have.

And yes, the original "mother" rhizome will not produce flowers after the side rhizomes have formed.

Here in South Dakota the irises multiply so fast I can't keep up with them. I dig them up and give them away.

Every spring I hold my breath with my daylilies, most make it, but there are always a few that don't make it through the cold winter.

Irises, Honestly I wish a few would die during the winter, but normally I swear they multiply even under a foot of snow.

So should you dig up and pitch the "mother" rhizome once it's bloomed? Is this just true for Bearded Iris or for other rhizome Iris as well? I have the green/yellow variegated Iris (Pallida)......I too have wondered about the price of Daylilies compared to other plants (in my case- roses) but have finally decided that's just how it is in the daylily world.

Once I have a good clump of irises going, the middle will form a mound of rhizomes without bloom stalks. I pull or cut off the side shoots and give some away and replant the rest, discarding the middle.

Maybe plant vigor has something to do with the difference in price. If irises multiply quicker and are generally hardier, perhaps the effort involved in hybridizing daylilies worthy of introduction is more intensive. But I do believe the market sets the price.

As long as daylily buyers are willing to pay $100, $200 or even $300 for an intro, that's what the hybridizers will ask. Apparently iris buyers are only willing to spend $50.

The mother won't bloom again, but it still often is large and if you plant it, it will grow side shoots that will bloom, or you could just plant side shoots if you have enough of them.

German BI certainly have the incredible blues, light and dark, and purples that daylily folks are looking for. And white. So, I'm not into hems for those colors that iris do well.

Iris are also easier to harvest and store dry. Most hems have to be individually dug.

Iris will regularly produce at least two side shoots every year. In teh north hems won't multiply that fast, but in the south will even better that.

Hems are also having edges and new color combinations (ie red with edge). Iris tend to be more self's. Also GBI iris are similar form. Hems have round, spiders, minis. So there is much more diversity.