• Iris in bloomiris violet image by Magalice from Fotolia.com
  
  The spectacular blooms of the iris make it a very popular plant in the United States. Their dramatic flowers are enjoyed by home gardeners and professionals alike. With a few good tips on iris bulbs, anyone can enjoy a successful blooming season.
  The iris is a perennial that is divided into two basic groups: the Dutch iris, grown from a bulb, and the German iris, grown from a rhizome or tuber.
  
  

Iris Bulbs

• Blooming Dutch irisIris image by S??bastien MICHEL from Fotolia.com
  
  The Dutch iris is grown from a true bulb much like the Dutch tulip. Typically smaller than German iris, these irises are popular in floral shops as well as in the home garden. Their long, strong stems and beautiful blooms are ideal for cut floral arrangements.
  
  A few tips for planting iris bulbs are to choose a well-drained and sunny location. Plant the iris bulbs when the weather cools in the fall, placing bulbs 4 inches deep and 3 inches apart. When the plants bloom in the spring, cut the flowers and enjoy in bouquets.
  
  Do not remove the foliage after the blooming season is complete; the leaves are preparing for next year's growth. Continue to water the plants until they become dormant. Once the leaves have turned yellow, cut them back and allow the plants to rest until next spring's blooming season.
  
  

Iris Rhizomes

• Bearded irisiris image by ynartseo from Fotolia.com
  
  The German iris and the bearded iris grow from a thick root called a "rhizome" (pronounced rye-zome) that resembles a potato.
  
  A few tips for planting these iris roots that will yield years of incredible blooms. Choose a well drained and sunny location, adding garden fertilizer according to instructions. Plant the rhizomes 1 foot apart in the soil, spreading its roots and adding enough soil to secure it in place, but not completely covering the top of the rhizome.
  
  With each growing season, new bloom stalks will grow up and begin to crowd the plant with the exact same bloom. After three or four years, you will need to dig up the crowded irises in late summer, replant the new rhizomes and discard the old.
  
  

Iris Care

• Beautiful cut flowerpurple iris close image by Trevor Goodwin from Fotolia.com
  
  Keep your garden well watered during the blooming season. As the flowers fade on the plant, cut the stalk down to the base. In the fall, withhold the water, trim all dead foliage and prune back the healthy leaves to a height of 4 inches. The fall care will prevent the invasion and growth of the iris borer.