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Tall Bearded Irises

17 years ago

Last summer I ordered some TB irises from Chapmans, then I decided to move so I planted them at my mom's house. They all made it through the winter and have a couple inches of new growth. Can I bring them home now? Is it an ok time to move them, if I leave a lot of soil on to minimize transplant shock?

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Comments (5)

plantaddict487
17 years ago
Hi northspruce,

It would be better to wait until July but if you feel you have to move them, you can. As I indicated in another thread, you might want to wait until the soil warms and the chance of frost is over. I wouldn't do it before the May long weekend. You will probably give up any blooms but they will have lots of time to settle in to their new homes.

HTH,

BJ in SW MB
valleyrimgirl
17 years ago
Gillian,

Sure you can move them. They are already climatized to our spring. You should move them anytime before summer so that they will get established in your yard well before next winter.

The more dirt you take with them and the less disturbance of the roots, the better for the iris.

Brenda
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Sylvia, Mike, Laurel, Thank you all very much for your responses: I'm looking into the sources you've listed here. I can't buy iris rhizomes in the U.S. and bring them back to Italy without engaging in smuggling, so U.S. catalogs would serve me as references only, and I certainly need references. A pity, and I would certainly otherwise be buying a lot of irises in the U.S. As it is, I'll check out your suggestions, Mike, for European sources. There's no problem buying and transporting plants between any two places in the European Union, at least none that I know of. I don't know enough about irises at this point to know whether I might become a fan of old irises. I am interested in old roses, particularly in the Teas and Chinas, and I suspect that old tall bearded irises might match them for toughness, beauty, and suitability for my conditions. The ones I have now are certainly thriving. I also am generally interested in species plants, for a variety of reasons, and want to get some of the iris species and early hybrids for my garden. Thanks again for your help, folks! Melissa
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I know what you mean, I tried to move more to the border bearded & intermediates, but kept being drawn back into the tall beardeds. They do flop after storms. This has been one year that we've missed heavy winds after the iris started blooming, although might get a storm this afternoon. Earl of Essex is a nice iris, considered tall, but really not. I like Candy Rock, Country Dance, Oklahoma Bandit, all nice intermediates I think. Blue Review is a nice TB blue, but on the short side, under 30". Green Prophecy is fairly short if you like those green toned ones. Living Right is lavender, but it sometimes shoots up taller than the 30" it is supposed to. Schorttman's Garnet Ruffles is red/maroon & always short. Afraid I can't help you where to buy, I got mine from the local iris society or in trades.
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valleyrimgirl
17 years ago
I see that as I was typing out a response, BJ also sent in one.

BJ, if the iris is already outside at her mom's place, then why would you have to wait until the ground warms up or for another 4 weeks?

Brenda
northspruce
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Brenda & BJ.

I guess I wasn't clear, they have been planted outside at mom's house. I think I will move them in the next couple of weeks since Brenda says ok. I wasn't really counting on them blooming this year anyway, they're just young. If some do that would be nice though.

Gillian
plantaddict487
17 years ago
Hi Brenda,

The reason I say it would be better to wait is that you will be disturbing them, cutting the roots that are only now starting to put out new growth. This disturbance makes them vulnerable to cold, wet, disease or whatever. My rule is no digging before May long weekend and no planting before at least the first week in June. It has worked for me. I'd be particularly leary of moving tall bearded iris since they are finicky here at the best of times, particularly the modern ones. Better safe than sorry is my mantra.

BJ in SW MB

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