Iris ‘Pink’ Bulbs – Bearded Iris

Colour:

Bearded iris in soft rose-pink — the Iris germanica everyone picture when they think ‘iris’. Each rhizome in this pack is a mature, field-grown division that will throw two or three flowering stems in its first season, then settle in and multiply year after year.

Why grow pink bearded iris?

• Colour that holds. Soft rose-pink petals that do not fade by the second week of June, unlike many cheaper tulip-bulb assortments.
• The scent. Bearded iris are among the few bulbs with a real perfume — strongest at midday and on still days.
• Deer and rabbit proof. The fibrous rhizome is unpalatable, so you plant it and it stays planted.
• Perennial value. Unlike tulips, bearded iris do not disappear after one spring. Divide every three years and multiply.

What is in the pack

You choose the size: 4, 6, 8, 10 or 15 rhizomes per pack. Each rhizome is graded, hand-checked for firmness and root health, and ships bare — exactly what the planting instructions ask for. Ships bare — no soil, no containers, no mystery.

How to plant iris bulbs

1. When: plant in early autumn, as soon as the soil is cool. In colder zones (3–5) you can plant in early spring.
2. Depth: 5 cm (2 in) deep, with the rhizome sitting on top of the soil rather than buried. Push the roots down, not the body.
3. Spacing: 30–45 cm (12–18 in) apart so the plants have room to clump.
4. Position: full sun — at least six hours. Shade is the single reason iris fail to flower.
5. After planting: water once, then leave it. Wet rhizomes rot; dry ones do not.

When will they flower?

Late spring to early summer, usually the last two weeks of May in most of the US, a little later further north. Each rhizome sends up multiple stems, so a single plant becomes a clump of five to seven flowers over three to four weeks. Cutting the stems after flowering keeps the plant strong and tidy; leave the leaves until they yellow in late summer.

Care and feeding

Once established, bearded iris need almost nothing. Water deeply during the first season, then only in long dry spells. Feed lightly with a low-nitrogen fertiliser in early spring and again after flowering — too much nitrogen gives you leaves and no flowers. Cut the foliage back to about 10 cm in late summer; mulch lightly with compost, never with bark or rich soil over the crown.

Common questions

More colours

• Iris ‘Purple’ Bulbs
• Iris ‘Blue’ Bulbs
• Iris ‘White’ Bulbs
• Iris ‘Yellow’ Bulbs
• Iris ‘Orange’ Bulbs
• Iris ‘Burgundy’ Bulbs

Also worth a look: our amaryllis bulbs for indoor winter colour and our lily bulbs for scent. New to bulbs? Start with when to plant flower bulbs.