Guest Author - Nikki Phipps The bearded iris is probably the
most commonly grown variety seen in the garden. The shaggy-like
beard on the lower portion of its blooms easily identifies this
iris. The bearded iris can be found in a wide range of heights,
from miniature dwarf to tall varieties. The smallest variety,
the miniature dwarf, grows up to 10 inches and is normally the
first to bloom, in early spring. Other varieties include the
standard dwarf, intermediate, and tall, which all typically
bloom later in the spring or early summer. The beardless
varieties of iris include the Siberian and Japanese species as
well as the Louisiana iris, Yellow Flag and Blue Flag iris,
Dutch iris, and dwarf crested iris. The majority of irises,
especially the bearded varieties, prefer to be sited in
locations receiving at least 6-8 hours of full sun. However,
with some varieties, such as the Siberian and dwarf-crested
iris, lightly shaded areas can be tolerated as well. The soil in
an iris garden should always drain easily.