SKU: 00840369419156 2 Dashing Bearded Iris (Iris germanica 'Dashing') Bareroots

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming rhizomatous perennial with thick horizontal rhizomes and attractive fans of sword-shaped green to blue-green foliage. Mature plants gradually spread outward as new rhizomes develop.
• Bloom Color: Showy violet-purple to lavender-purple blooms, often displaying variations in tone between the upright standards and cascading falls. The characteristic fuzzy beard provides an attractive contrasting accent.
• Bloom Season: Generally flowers in mid to late spring into early summer, with exact timing depending on climate and seasonal temperatures.
• Fragrance: Flowers may have a light to pleasant sweet fragrance, particularly when several blooms are open simultaneously.
• Fruit Flavor: None. Pollinated flowers may develop dry seed capsules rather than fleshy fruit. The seeds and capsules are not considered edible.
• Culinary Uses: None recommended. Dashing Bearded Iris is grown as an ornamental plant and should not be consumed. The rhizomes, foliage, flowers, and seeds should not be treated as edible plant material.
• Medicinal Uses: Some Iris species have histories of traditional medicinal and perfumery use, including the production of orris root from certain specially processed iris rhizomes. Dashing Bearded Iris is an ornamental selection and is not recommended for homemade medicinal preparations, teas, extracts, or self-treatment.
• Possible Toxicity to Pets or Humans: Harmful if ingested. Iris plants contain irritating compounds, with the rhizomes generally presenting the greatest concern. Ingestion may cause drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. Iris can also cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs, cats, and horses. Sap may irritate sensitive skin, so gloves are recommended when planting, dividing, or handling rhizomes.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Flowers may attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Bearded Iris is generally considered resistant to deer and rabbit browsing. Possible pests include iris borers, thrips, aphids, slugs, and snails. Potential diseases include bacterial soft rot and fungal leaf diseases, while rhizome rot can become a problem in poorly drained or excessively wet soil.
• Planting Zone: Generally hardy in USDA Zones 3–9, making Bearded Iris suitable for a broad range of temperate climates.
• Sun Preferences: Prefers full sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Light partial shade may be tolerated, particularly in hot climates, but excessive shade can reduce flowering.
• Soil Preferences: Performs best in fertile, well-drained soil. Neutral to slightly alkaline conditions are ideal. Avoid low areas and heavy soils where water remains around the rhizomes.
• Drought Tolerance: High once established. Mature Bearded Iris tolerates periods of dry weather very well. Newly planted rhizomes need somewhat more consistent moisture while establishing but should never remain continuously wet.
• Mature Size: Typically develops into an upright clump approximately 30–40 inches tall when flowering and about 18–24 inches wide, depending on growing conditions and plant maturity.

When and How to Prune

Dashing Bearded Iris requires relatively little pruning.

After individual flowers fade, remove them as desired to keep the plant looking neat. Once every flower on a stalk has finished blooming, cut the entire spent flower stalk back near its base.

Do not cut healthy green foliage back immediately after flowering. The sword-shaped leaves continue photosynthesizing and storing energy within the rhizomes for the following growing season.

During summer, remove yellow, brown, damaged, or diseased leaves as necessary.

In late fall, after frost and natural foliage decline, trim remaining foliage back to approximately 4–6 inches above the ground. Remove dead foliage and other garden debris from around the plants to help reduce overwintering pests and diseases.

Established clumps generally benefit from division approximately every 3–5 years, particularly if flowering begins to decline.

Planting Instructions (Rhizomes into the Ground)

Although Bearded Iris is commonly sold alongside flowering bulbs, Dashing Bearded Iris grows from a rhizome rather than a true bulb. Bearded Iris rhizomes require very shallow planting and should never be buried deeply like tulip or daffodil bulbs.

1. Plant rhizomes primarily from mid-summer through early fall, ideally giving them several weeks to establish roots before severe winter weather.
2. Select a planting location receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
3. Make sure the site has excellent drainage. Avoid low areas where rainwater regularly collects.
4. Loosen the soil approximately 8–10 inches deep before planting.
5. If necessary, amend poor soil to improve its structure and drainage.
6. Dig a shallow hole and create a small mound of soil in its center.
7. Position the rhizome horizontally across the top of the mound, with the leafy fan pointing upward.
8. Spread the attached roots naturally downward and outward over the sides of the mound.
9. Backfill around the roots while leaving the upper surface of the rhizome at soil level or slightly exposed.
10. Do not bury the entire rhizome several inches underground. Deep planting can reduce flowering and increase the likelihood of rot.
11. Space individual rhizomes approximately 12–18 inches apart to provide room for future growth.
12. Water thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
13. Keep newly planted rhizomes moderately moist during establishment, allowing the soil to begin drying between waterings.
14. Once established, water deeply but less frequently, particularly during prolonged dry periods.
15. Avoid applying thick mulch directly over the rhizomes. Good sunlight exposure and air circulation around the upper rhizome help discourage rot.

Overwintering Steps

• Dashing Bearded Iris is a cold-hardy perennial and can generally remain planted in the ground throughout winter within its recommended hardiness range.
• After flowering, allow healthy foliage to remain throughout the growing season.
• In late fall, remove declining foliage and trim remaining leaves to approximately 4–6 inches tall.
• Remove dead leaves, weeds, and other garden debris from around the plants. This helps reduce potential overwintering sites for iris borers and disease organisms.
• Avoid placing thick, moisture-retaining mulch directly over the rhizomes.
• Newly planted rhizomes in particularly cold areas may benefit from a light protective covering after the ground becomes cold.
• Remove excessive winter protection when temperatures begin warming in spring.
• Excellent drainage is essential throughout winter. Bearded Iris generally tolerates cold temperatures much better than cold, waterlogged soil.
• Inspect plants in early spring and remove any rhizome sections that have become soft, rotten, or badly damaged.

Dividing and Long-Term Care

Dashing Bearded Iris gradually multiplies as established rhizomes produce new offsets. Over several growing seasons, a single planting can develop into a broad, impressive clump.

Eventually, overcrowding can reduce flowering and increase competition between rhizomes. Divide established plants approximately every 3–5 years, preferably after flowering during mid- to late summer.

Carefully lift the clump from the soil and separate the younger, firm rhizomes. Discard sections that are old, hollow, soft, rotten, or badly damaged. Healthy divisions should have a firm rhizome, developing roots, and a vigorous fan of foliage.

Replant healthy divisions at the proper shallow depth, keeping the roots underground while positioning the upper portion of the rhizome at or very near the soil surface.

With its rich violet-purple flowers, graceful ruffled form, architectural sword-shaped foliage, and dependable perennial habit, Dashing Bearded Iris brings classic elegance and bold color to sunny garden spaces. Its tall flowers make a striking vertical accent among shorter perennials, while its drought tolerance, deer resistance, and ability to multiply over time make it an excellent choice for borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, and mass iris plantings.