SKU: 00840369419255 3 My Friend Johnathan Bearded Reblooming Iris - Iris Germanica Bareroot

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming rhizomatous perennial classified as a Tall Bearded Iris. Thick horizontal rhizomes gradually produce new fans of sword-shaped foliage, allowing established plants to expand into substantial clumps.
• Bloom Color: An unusual blend of bright fuchsia and brick red with chocolate veining and bronze-colored beards. The lightly ruffled and subtly laced flowers have a rich, warm appearance that can show hints of mahogany, copper, and reddish-purple under different lighting conditions.
• Bloom Season: Produces its primary display in late spring to early summer and has the potential to rebloom from late summer into fall. Rebloom performance varies according to climate, plant maturity, moisture, fertility, and length of the growing season.
• Fragrance: Flowers are pleasantly fragrant, adding another dimension to their ornamental and cut-flower appeal.
• Fruit Flavor: None. Pollinated flowers may eventually develop dry seed capsules rather than fleshy fruit. These capsules and seeds are not considered edible.
• Culinary Uses: None recommended. My Friend Jonathan is an ornamental iris and should not be used as food. Rhizomes, foliage, flowers, and seeds should not be treated as edible plant material.
• Medicinal Uses: Various Iris species have histories of traditional herbal use, and the rhizomes of certain species have historically been processed into orris root. My Friend Jonathan is an ornamental hybrid and should not be used for homemade medicinal preparations, teas, extracts, or self-treatment.
• Possible Toxicity to Pets or Humans: Harmful if ingested. Iris plants contain irritating compounds, particularly in their rhizomes and sap. Ingestion may cause drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. Iris can also cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs, cats, and horses. Plant sap may irritate sensitive skin, so wearing gloves while dividing or handling rhizomes is recommended.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Flowers may attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Bearded Iris is generally considered resistant to deer and rabbit browsing. Potential pests include iris borers, aphids, thrips, slugs, and snails. Bacterial soft rot, fungal leaf spots, and rhizome rot can occur, particularly where plants are overcrowded, heavily mulched, or grown in poorly drained soil.
• Planting Zone: Generally hardy in USDA Zones 4–9, with reports of rebloom occurring across a broad range of climates. Rebloom is influenced strongly by local growing conditions and should not be considered guaranteed every year.
• Sun Preferences: Prefers full sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Some light afternoon shade can be tolerated in very hot climates, but excessive shade may reduce flowering and rebloom.
• Soil Preferences: Performs best in fertile, well-drained soil. Neutral to slightly alkaline conditions are particularly suitable. Avoid locations that remain soggy after rainfall.
• Drought Tolerance: High once established. Mature bearded irises tolerate periods of dry weather well. However, adequate moisture after the initial spring flowering can be particularly helpful for reblooming cultivars as they prepare for a possible second flowering cycle.
• Mature Size: Typically reaches approximately 32–36 inches tall with a mature spread of roughly 18–24 inches as the rhizomes multiply.

When and How to Prune

• Remove individual faded flowers throughout the blooming period to maintain a tidy appearance.
• Once all flowers on a stalk have finished, cut the spent flower stalk near its base.
• After the spring bloom, leave healthy green foliage intact. The leaves continue photosynthesizing and supporting the rhizomes.
• Because My Friend Jonathan is a reblooming cultivar, avoid heavily cutting back healthy foliage during summer. The plant needs its leaves to support new growth and potential late-season flower stalks.
• Continue watering during prolonged dry periods after spring flowering if you want to encourage the strongest possible rebloom.
• Remove yellow, brown, damaged, or diseased leaves whenever necessary.
• After fall flowering has finished, remove spent flower stalks.
• In late fall, after frost and natural foliage decline, trim old foliage back to approximately 4–6 inches above the ground.
• Remove dead leaves and garden debris from around the rhizomes to help reduce overwintering iris borers and disease problems.
• Divide overcrowded clumps approximately every 3–5 years to maintain vigorous flowering.

Planting Instructions (Rhizomes into the Ground)

Although bearded irises are frequently grouped with flower bulbs, My Friend Jonathan grows from a rhizome rather than a true bulb. The rhizome must be planted much more shallowly than tulip, daffodil, or Dutch Iris bulbs.

1. Plant rhizomes from mid- to late summer into early fall, allowing enough time for roots to establish before severe winter weather.
2. Choose a sunny location receiving approximately 6 or more hours of direct sunlight each day.
3. Make sure the planting site drains exceptionally well. Avoid low areas where water remains after rainfall.
4. Loosen the soil approximately 8–10 inches deep and incorporate compost if necessary to improve poor soil.
5. Dig a shallow hole and create a small mound of soil in the center.
6. Place the rhizome horizontally on top of the mound, positioning the leafy fan upright.
7. Spread the attached roots naturally downward and outward over the sides of the mound.
8. Backfill soil around the roots while leaving the upper surface of the rhizome at soil level or slightly exposed.
9. Do not bury the rhizome several inches deep like a traditional flower bulb. Deep planting can reduce flowering and encourage rot.
10. Space rhizomes approximately 12–18 inches apart.
11. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
12. Keep newly planted rhizomes moderately moist while they establish, allowing the soil surface to begin drying between waterings.
13. Once established, water less frequently but deeply during prolonged dry periods.
14. Do not place thick mulch directly over the rhizomes. Keeping the upper rhizome exposed to sunlight and air circulation helps discourage rot.

Encouraging Rebloom

My Friend Jonathan is capable of producing a second display of flowers, but rebloom depends heavily on growing conditions.

After the primary spring flowering, remove spent flower stalks while leaving all healthy foliage intact. Provide adequate water during extended summer drought and maintain moderate fertility so the plant can develop the energy needed to initiate additional flower stalks.

Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, which can encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers. A balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer can be applied according to label directions when appropriate.

In climates where the cultivar reblooms successfully, additional flower stalks may emerge from late summer through fall, providing a second display before cold weather arrives.

Overwintering Steps

• My Friend Jonathan is a cold-hardy perennial and normally remains in the ground throughout winter within its recommended zones.
• After the final flowering cycle and the arrival of cold weather, remove spent flower stalks.
• Trim declining foliage back to approximately 4–6 inches tall in late fall.
• Remove dead leaves and debris from around the rhizomes to reduce places where iris borers and disease organisms can overwinter.
• Avoid covering the rhizomes with thick, moisture-retaining mulch.
• In particularly cold areas, newly planted rhizomes can receive a light protective winter covering after the ground freezes.
• Remove winter protection promptly as spring approaches.
• Excellent drainage remains important throughout winter because bearded iris generally tolerates cold better than cold, saturated soil.
• Inspect plants in early spring and remove any rhizome portions that have become soft or rotten.

Dividing and Long-Term Care

As My Friend Jonathan matures, its rhizomes multiply outward and eventually form a dense clump. Overcrowding can reduce both spring flowering and the likelihood of rebloom.

Divide established clumps approximately every 3–5 years, preferably several weeks after the primary flowering period. Carefully lift the rhizomes, separate vigorous younger sections, and discard old, hollow, soft, or diseased portions.

Replant healthy divisions shallowly with their roots beneath the soil and the upper portion of the rhizome at or near the surface.

With its fuchsia and brick-red flowers, chocolate veining, bronze beards, pleasant fragrance, and potential for a second flowering season, My Friend Jonathan Bearded Reblooming Iris is a distinctive addition to the perennial garden. Its unusual warm coloring pairs beautifully with cream, yellow, lavender, blue, and deep purple companions, while its tall stems provide excellent vertical interest and impressive cut flowers from spring—and, under favorable conditions, once again in late summer or fall.