Dutch Iris Iris x hollandica

This more delicately flowered perennial herb in the Iridaceae family is grown from a bulb rather than a rhizome spaced 4-6" at 3-5" depth 6-8 per square foot in sunny locations with well-drained light soil.  They were hybridized of the Spanish iris group by the Dutch.  As bulbs divide into bulblets (offshoots) after blooms have faded they may be separated and replanted, but take several years to mature.  To increase the pleasure of subsequent seasons, it is recommended to separate and plant these bulblets, or plant additional bulbs each fall.  In the cooler regions of their range, they are grown as annuals and bulbs are planted in the fall for a spring bloom April to May.  They should be kept moist during the growing season and can tolerate light afternoon shade.   

Although the leaves are strap-like, overlapping at the base and oriented in one plane as many other iris, they are finer, thinner and shorter at 15-24".   The flowers are showy in the garden and are prized as cut flowers.  Cultivars introduce flowers of many various colors from purple to blue to yellow to white with one to several at the top of a naked stem.  They are 6-parted with 3 outer, spreading or pendent "falls" and 3 inner, erect "standards".  They are not bearded but may show a yellow spot or stripe on the falls.  The fruit is a capsule.   They may be susceptible to the fungal, bacterial and iris borer difficulties of the Iris family so the bed should be kept clean of old leaves and debris. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  

More information on Iris.