Iris
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Bearded iris thrives in raised beds — excellent drainage prevents the rhizome rot that kills iris in clay. Plant rhizomes horizontally at the surface, barely covered. Divide every 3–4 years after bloom, in late summer. Remove old foliage fans to reduce disease.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–9
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Low — drought-tolerant once established
- Soil
- Loam, sandy
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 18 in. between plants
- Space needed
- A 2×2 ft block of the bed
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Immortalitystart
White reblooming iris — flowers in spring and again in fall.
- Batikstart
Striking purple and white streaked/splashed flowers — unique and vivid.
- Titan's Glorystart
Deep violet-blue self — large ruffled blooms.
- Beverly Sillsstart
Award-winning coral-pink with tangerine beards — classic beauty.
Add Iris to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →