I have pink obedient plant seeds that I will trade for some of your japanese iris seeds. plmk. littlegardenhoer

Thank you for the reply. That will make things a little easier. After actually digging it out I realized my proportions were way optimistic. Also, Ive been watching how it drains or actually doesnt drain that well so I think raising the bed ( hopefully 4") and planting the iris 2/3s is a better option. Thanks again.

Mertie, most iris including Siberica are warm-cold-cool germinators, giving most complete germination if they are exposed to a moist warm period before the moist chill. 2-4 weeks moist at room temp, 4-6 moist chill, then brought to warmer but still cool (50ishF) for germination and the moist periods must be in that order. (think Fall, winter, late winter to spring as what would occur if the plants had self sown and dropped their seed to the ground, you are mimicking those conditions) Where your seed has been exposed to a range of temps now, we still can't assume to know how moist they were - and they must be moist to overcome the dormancy. I'd sow (pots), and watch them. You might be surprised with the initial warm moist period to find some germination, happened to me with iris chrysographes a couple of years ago. It wasn't entirely a welcome surprise, I'd planned to put the pots outside for their chill and not care for them indoors for the remaining of winter ;)

My zone will be completely different from yours, but here they sell iris rhizomes to plant in the early spring as well as fall, although mid summer is the desired time to plant when they are dormant. They all do well, although those planted in the spring don't bloom for a year. I would plant them now. I plant in full sun, any I have planted in part shade don't thrive as much as those in full sun, but most still bloom. Hope that helps some. I'm sure someone from Texas or a warmer zone than I am will respond to your post.