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New to Irises: Spring bloomers or rebloomers for zone 5?

18 years ago

I have the cataloges spread out and am totally confused. Why would anyone plant once blooming spring bloomers if there is an option for reblooming Irises? Am I missing something here? For a newby, is there an Iris equivalent of Knockout rose? (reliable bloom, disease resistant, non-fussy) or should I just close my eyes and randomly pick 10 of the zillion types of Irises in the cataloge?

Thanks,

cross-eyed and confused, from midwest.

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Comments (4)

jain
18 years ago
just to oversimplify this, rebloomers are really climate based, the longer the growing the season, the more guaranteed you will see it, the colder you are, the iffier your chances are. with that said why by spring bloomers only, its all about VARIETY!!! just pick what you like and be prepared for a new addiction...
jenny05
18 years ago
Suttons catalog is one that lists what zones the rebloomers that they carry are known to bloom in. I'm located in zone 4b/5a, and personally I've only had one ever rebloom for me. It was one of the first iris I bought and was from Walmart, it was labeled as Coral Chalice, but I don't believe that was accurate. It looked more like Champagne Elegance but I can't be sure as it was several years ago and I don't have a pic. As Jain said I would just go for iris that appeal to you and if they are listed as rebloomers you never know, they may or may not rebloom, but either way you'll get a gorgeous flower.
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Yes :-). Some rebloom and others are newbies so they are blooming off cycle. I took all the scapes with buds/blooms off today and stuck them in a container.Maybe all the buds will open and perhaps not. Worth a try. Temps here have finally dipped down at night into the 40's so no use leaving them on the plants. Ones I clipped the scapes with buds/blooms are INDIAN GIVER, BROADWAY SPARKLER, LIGHT OF THE WORLD, RASPBERRY BANANA CHEESECAKE, ACAPULCO DAZE, CARNIVAL IN BRAZIL, PAPER BUTTERFLY AND SOMETHING MARVELOUS have been here. KIPLING, WREN'S SONG, LIGHTER THAN AIR and I can't remember the Maryott ones are newbies this spring. The 2 in the pic that have opened are BROADWAY SPARKLER and RASPBERRY BANANA CHEESECAKE. I also took off a scape with a pod on it and will see if it will mature on the scape. It has been one great season and we are almost into October! Julia
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Rainbow, I start with 10-52-10 around the first to middle of June. If I remember to do it I fertilize about every two weeks until the first of November or until hard freeze. This may not work and will not be needed if you have rich soil. The soil in NE Mississippi on the hills is not rich at all. If there is not plenty of rainfall I also water as needed. I plant all my rebloomers close enough to the house that I can reach them with the water hose. I have three(Anxious, Immortality and Brother Carl) that have been blooming since June and the regular fall bloomers started late August. Except for about two weeks after the spring bloom I have had at least one iris in bloom since early March. If I get a few really late spring bloomers I think I can fill that gap. Lee Mincy
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Aren't you a bit too frozen to try digging around if you are in zone 5? Aside from that... I can say that I have overwintered irises I've gotten on clearance in pots and put them in in the spring once the soil could be worked and not lost them. I haven't done this often though, so I don't know if I just lucked out with what I planted, or if it's actually ok to do so. If you have a whole bunch of irises, that should mean you got a bunch of rhizomes. So as littlebit said, move a few, and see what happens.
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carlos42180
18 years ago
Perhaps you are unsure of how Irises grow. Irises are very different than roses, in the fact that roses can send new buds every week or so. Reblooming Irises aren't like reblooming roses. Reblooming irises bloom in spring and then MAYBE in the fall -- it is not guaranteed, but they never continuously bloom throughout the summer like roses or perennial flowers, which I believe is what you are thinking.

I don't know where in IL you are, but Chimera and Invitation have been dependable rebloomers here in Chicago.

Carlos
pappu
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all...Carlos, you are right...I was thinking reblooming Irises bloom in weekly flushes like roses do...I guess I have to hang around on this forum to get more educated...thank you...

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