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Difference of Japanest Iris and Siberian Iris

13 years ago

I love Iris but hate waiting for their fans to die back after blooming as it makes the flowerbeds look so unkept. I needed to divide my tall, bearded iris and gave most of them away. The ones I kept for myself, I didn't get planted right away, they sat there for at least 3 weeks. I had good intentions but in 95-103 temps, that was not my first priority. They shriveled up and I threw them out in the other yard waste. I'd like to buy some new varieties..can anybody advise which type of iris doesn't produce a lot of fans/leaves?

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Comments (3)

hosenemesis
13 years ago
Spurias need dividing much less often than tall bearded irises.

I also find that the newer TB introductions that are very tall seem to grow a bit more slowly, and I avoid anything that is older and described as "vigorous" and is also a rebloomer- like Grandma's Purple Flag. I could not keep up with that iris. I planted it at my neighbor's :)

I like iris foliage, and mine do not die back. I just pull out the yellow and brown leaves. Maybe it's because we have to water year-round here in California- they stay green. Here's what they looked like last week:

Renee
merrilee
13 years ago
I love the Siberian irises. The foliage stays green and fresh looking right up to fall when I cut it back. I only have one Japanese iris and I haven't had it long enough to say what it's foliage will be like after blooming.
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I guess its time to confess. After I added to my order from Snowpeak Iris I also ordered 8 Siberian Iris from Ensata. There no hope for me, I am hopelessly hooked. I knew that I needed to move some daylilies out of the area I intended to plant but by the time I started on it today and by the time I got the first of three moved, my mail was here and the Siberian Iris from Ensata had already arrived. So I just lifted the other two daylily clumps along with lots soil and put them in a plastic container in the shade to replant tomorrow. Tomorrow I will put those daylilies in the left hand side of the front yard garden along side some others that have been there for years. Should look fine. I got a late start doing anything in the garden today as it was just so darn cold earlier in the day. Anyway, the nine I recieved today are all planted and I must say that I am very pleased with the section of garden in there. I never did really like those three daylilies in there, the Siberian Iris look right there to me, the daylilies did not. Now, I do not mean I do not like those daylilies, just did not like the location. I am really pleased with the great plants I received. I ordered 8 and got a bonus plant too. This makes 44 Siberian Iris already planted and I have 6 more coming from Snowpeak Iris. I bought some of Ensata's Bauer/Coble intros including the 2009 one- CONCORD CRUSH (2009 intro) KABOOM KABLUEY MAGNUM BORDEAUX MOON DAZZLE (bonus gift plant) Two Hollingworth- SHALL WE DANCE VEINS OF GOLD And - SURFIN SAFARI (MIller 04) HOOKED AGAIN (Coopland 06) My siberian Iris collection is coming along nicely :-)) Here is a link that might be useful: Ensata Japanese and Siberian Iris
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Not to add to the confusion but Siberian iris are not water iris. They will not grow in ponds/standing water but are quite happy adjacent to it or in temporarily marshy conditions. But they will grow just as well in ordinary garden soil with ordinary garden irrigation. In fact, they are quite drought tolerant once established. Species and non-rhizomatous or bulbous iris are my specialities. And like any other fleshy-rooted perennial, they dislike their roots drying out, even during dormancy. That's when you encounter difficulties with bare root plants, as they have been harvested early and stored too long with improper care. Some species iris can be extremely picky as to when they can be planted or even divided - try it at the wrong season and chances for success are greatly reduced. Siberians are not nearly that picky, but I would not consider them at all great candidates for bare root culture. Much better to purchase rooted, growing starts.
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Garden of mu, thanks for the tip about flopping. Thanks also for the suggested companions. It pointed out to me that my description of the light conditions were not accurate. Hostas would fry in this location. You know how the light conditions for a lot of plants are listed as full sun/partial shade? That is the type of shade I am talking about. Rudbeckias flourish about 6 feet from where I plan to move the irises. The location does not get as much direct sunlight as the rudbeckias. I am puposely putting them in the shadiest spot of this 30-foot bed to protect them from too much southern sun. The companions will get more sun than the irises, but it is still partial shade. Because full sun/partial shade plants are exactly the kind I don't have much experience with, I definitely need suggestions for companions plants. Sorry my original post wasn't clearer. I forgot that partial shade means different conditions in different parts of the country. Thanks.
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what they said.. but lets simplify it a bit ... the plant itself doesnt matter.. there need not be different rules for different plants .. in this regard ... the simple question is.. do you want flowers this year ... if you do ... you sharpen your shovel.. and cut away half.. the half left.. will probably bloom ... with no insult to the root mass left ... if you simply plot the other half in a new spot.. and treat it well.. it will also probably bloom .. but might not ... if you divide the second half.. into a bazillion little pieces ... they might bloom next year ... never forget.. flowering is sexual maturity ... and a babe has to grow a mature root mass ... to flower above ... so the smaller you go on dividing.. the longer it will take to clump and flower ... you need the simple rule .. because.. often .. you have to do.. what you have to do.. when you have the time ... too many projects get left behind.. and never done.. because you think.. oh.. i will come back and do that in fall .. and then next spring.. you are standing there.. back at square one ... lol ken
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harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
13 years ago
The reason I tried Siberian Iris is because they stay fresh and green throughout the summer and early fall. I use them like ornamental grasses. We experienced 3 weeks of drought with record high temps in late June and early July. The SI were not affected. Even the two I transplanted in May.

The Japanese Iris I planted last year are also looking healthy and lush. I did make an effort to keep them moist during the drought.

I must admit that I am surprised that Siberian Iris are not more popular here in the east where they grow with no maintenance.

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