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Perennials & Annuals - Australia

Irises flowering

23 years ago

My bearded irises have started flowering. I'm not sure exactly what they are but I think they are an old fashioned royal purple sort. Last year they flowered in August/September. Is this normal for them to be flowering 3 months early? We had a downpour in Feb after a long dry spell - would this have confused them?

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Comments (10)

Snodge
23 years ago
It believe it is quite normal for some varieties to flower again in Autumn. My catalogues make not on some varieties re the additional flowering. Mine haven't this year, but did last year. Didn't interfere with their spring flowering.

My irises have suffered a lot this year. Slaters have eaten a lot of tubers believe it or not....they're not such harmless critters afterall! I've also had a spate of rot as well. I might move some to large pots (specially a piece of they one I paid a lot of money for...ie Romantic Evening).
Marie_K
Original Author
23 years ago
Hi Snodge,
Thanks for the info, but I thought the ones I have are the oldfashioned type which don't repeat bloom? Anyway, I'll see in spring whether they flower again!
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wombat
23 years ago
I suspect the out of season flowering may be attributed to the downpour. We have been on water restictions for so long - for the past few months have only been able to bucket washing water onto the garden and, because of heart problems, only a bit of that. Over the past few weeks we have had a bit of rain (not enough to ease restrictions) and all sorts of things have sprung into life. My Algerian iris and miniature cyclamen have masses of flowers - both very late.

I also have the old fashioned purple iris but I guess it didn't get wet enough to think it was spring.
Mrs_B
23 years ago
Hi Marie
Message from Jan (sparaxis) for you:
says it is perfectly normal for some cultivars to bloom in Autumn, and it is generally watering over summer that allows them to do so. They are called 'rebloomers' and Barry Blyth from Tempo Two advertises quite a few in his catalogue. There is also a very old purple bearded iris, probably the variety "Crimson King" which reblooms right through Winter. It is often mistaken for the species Iris germanica.
Hope that helps
cheers Teresa
Marie_K
Original Author
23 years ago
Thanks for that info Teresa (and Jan), they did get the occasional water over summer. The odd one here and there spot flowered over the summer too. I gave some to friends and theirs are flowering as well.
Marie_K
Original Author
23 years ago
PS I did a search for iris "Crimson King" and it does look very much like it, especially the white bits on the falls. Nice to have it IDed!
kolanda
23 years ago
My yellow iris is flowering and what a show it is putting on! 6 flowers so far.
Nice to have a bit of colour in the garden after the dusty dry summer we have had. Nice to see the plants appreciating the rain as much as I do.
derwent
23 years ago
Hi Marie i also had one of my iris`es flower in april may it was called hot chocolate the others usualey bloom abt. nov-dec. i have about 130 different colours and have succesfully over 2-3 years grown 40 odd new one from seed witch i pollenated myself i have also grown tree and herbacious peoney roses from seed , good luck with your`s
regards max.
MPPI
23 years ago
My Iris reticulata are flowering now. A delicious little plant.
MPPI
sparrowoz
23 years ago
Hi All
My irises have been out of whack, too - suburban Melb on the Bay. I put it down to weird weather too.

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