Typically in April here...

Thanks Scuba. Looking forward to some bright colors. I would think it will be shortly after yours start that mine will follow.

Kristi

Keep an eye on them. I have a number of them in different areas. Those that are returning again for the 3rd year are starting to show bud signs....yea! They'll go from whispy or grassy to looking rather like the body of a prawn: thick with little feelers out the top.

cynthia

Kristi, you'll just love your dutch iris.

I planted some the year before last and they put my other bulbs to shame. lol

what do these look like?

Like this

Here is a link that might be useful: Dutch Iris

Cynthia, thanks for the link. I think I have the Blue Magic. I just picked up a "bag-o-bulbs" at a box store last fall. I don't recall it having the name of the variety on it, but the picture did look like Blue Magic. Mine are not showing any signs of buds yet but I've got daffs blooming up through the foliage of the Irises.

Thanks again,
Kristi

I never knew the difference. I guess when I saw Dutch Iris, I thought they were Louisiana Irises
This one is from Dear Jac a few years ago
{{gwi:1338575}}

Jolana, I think that the La. Irises are more tolerant of wetter soils than the Dutch Iris. How do you like your La. Irises?

Kristi

I think mine are blue magic.

Jolana, that's a beauty.

Kristi, I love them, they multiply faster than my bearded and bloom sooner. Thes have been in dry soil, moist, and in the pond. Very versatile, lol
They were already blooming this time last year

Carolann, thank you

My Dutch iris' did fine last year (first year) and this year the foliage is growing well, actually starting growing in December, but they seem to have stalled for a long while. Did they start coming up too early and the later cold spells screwed them up? Or should they pick up where they left off? The foliage still appears to be quite healthy, no wilting, so do you think they will do ok? They have definitely multiplied, too. I don't need to worry about separating for a couple of years, right? When I separate, it should be done when dormant?

I've noticed that things bloom at different times even within just a few miles.

My Crimson King Iris bloomed about March 8, followed by Gold Imperial & then iris albicans (white cemetary iris), & my Dutch iris are popping out sporadically, but I've visited a friend here in the area, & she has buds but no blooms yet.

Yet some of my other things are *later* than other people's;
my redbuds were still in tight bud when the ones just north of me were in full bloom.

so...
I'd say don't worry about your Dutch iris.
They probably will bloom very soon.

Once they've finished, do not cut back the foliage.
Let it die, & then cut it off.
The plant needs the foliage to make food for next year.

Yes, when you separate them, be sure they're dormant.

Rule of thumb for separating & transplanting is to do it in the season opposite the bloom season.

So tall bearded irises do best when separated/transplanted in what other areas call "autumn" & we call "August & September".

Since it's very difficult to work outdoors during that season, one of my goals is to have the new beds prepared long before it's time to move the irises!

I noticed a couple of days ago that I have one bud. LOL, that's out of four clumps that I have planted. I figure the others will be along sometime in the not too distant future.

Kristi

They make good cut flowers, too, last a long time in the vase.

Mine are blooming!

Sylvia: Thanks for your reply! They do seem to have started growing again, and FAST! I have one that looks very different from the rest, though. LOL The foliage is much bigger/thicker, and it's growing very symetrical. All of the leaves are fanned out to either side. I think there is a bud coming up through the middle right now, too. The rest are about half as tall, and much thinner, and they "flop" in any and all directions.

{{gwi:1338576}}

>>>So tall bearded irises do best when separated/transplanted in what other areas call "autumn" & we call "August & September".Boy do I understand this statement. LOL August is the peak of summer here! HOT HOT HOT

Ace, please post a photo of the bloom!
That is a most unique looking plant and I can hardly wait to see what happens.

Came home from an overnight in Louisiana today to find my one bud had turned into a beautiful bloom. Seems it was just the scout and I have a LOT of buds coming out. My ones with buds look just like yours ACE. You won't have to wait much longer :).

Kristi

Here's my first bloom. The rest of the iris are now loaded up with buds. Can't wait....such a pretty splash of vibrant color :).

Kristi

Here it is! It bloomed yesterday!

{{gwi:1338579}}

Like Kristi, looks like I have more on their way!

{{gwi:1338581}}

I was just scrolling back through and the first picture I posted of my big ole Dutchie looks more like a corn stalk!

Kristi, that is sooo pretty. besides the stalk and the way the flower comes out of the stalk, I can't see a difference between Dutch and Louisiana bloom, lol
Interesting... love the plant world

Ace, didn't see your pics, I really need to refresh the pages before I post, lol
Very pretty

My big corn stalk iris now has a second bloom. Makes it look like a single huge flower. Will post a picture later. LOL

I guess the pic I posted above was the first scout. Here comes the troops :)

Two other groups are coming along as well. Saw my first hummingbird on one of my salvia greggi yesterday. Hung my feeder and will post a pic of him soon :).

Kristi

Those sure are pretty, Kristi.
Jim

Thank you Jim. They're not only pretty.....they're EASY :). I planted these probably in November. I interplanted them with daffs which I haven't grown in a long time. When they started coming up a couple of weeks later, I freaked thinking they were the daffs :). The irises grew throughout the winter and the cold temps didn't faze them a bit (even though I worried considerably!). Funny that the daffs didn't come up til much later, but bloomed first. Anyhoooo, if you haven't tried them, I highly recommend them. I'll be looking for more and other colors this fall.

Kristi

A nice spot of blue! Those are so nice Kristi!

We've got freeze warnings tomorrow and Saturday night. Is that going to mess with all my new blooms coming up?? :(

Our forecasted low for Saturday night is 34 but I live out in the sticks so it will be couple of degrees cooler here. I am trying to decide whether or not to cut the flowers and bring them inside. I now have four clumps of them in brilliant beautiful bloom. Hate to lose them all so suddenly to a freeze.

Kristi