If you love beautiful perennials, you’ll probably have some irises growing in your garden. This may prompt you to wonder “When do irises bloom?“.
The answer to this question varies. Iris blooming season can be any time from late winter to early fall, depending on the type you grow.
Ironically, irises can be one of the earliest, or latest, flowers to bloom! Narrowing down flowering times is important so you can choose the right varieties to grow in your flower garden.
Keep reading to understand iris bloom time, and learn about the potential for iris blooming more than once.
Iris blooming season
Irises belong to the genus Iris, which encompasses over 250 species. They are divided into three main categories: bearded, beardless, and crested irises. Each category has unique characteristics and blooming times.
Readers often ask me “Do irises bloom all summer?”. Usually, the answer is no for most varieties, although you’ll likely have iris flowers for a large part of the season.
The bloom time of irises varies depending on the type, climate, and specific variety. Generally, irises bloom from early spring to early summer, with some varieties blooming again in the fall.
Below is a more detailed look at the blooming times for different types of irises in the Northern Hemisphere. You can also print an iris bloom time chart from this link or the project card at the bottom of this post.
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Dwarf iris bloom time
Dwarf irises are some of the first flowers to appear in your garden. They can bloom as early as February although, in cooler areas, they might not flower until March or April.
The bearded dwarf iris normally blooms earlier than the crested dwarf iris.
Bearded iris bloom time
Bearded irises are known for their fuzzy, caterpillar-like “beards” on their lower petals. These irises are the most popular type and come in a range of colors.
Bearded irises will bloom from early spring to late fall, depending on the variety of bearded irises you choose to grow.
- Early bloomers: These irises typically bloom in late March to early April.
- Midseason bloomers: This type of iris blooms from late April to mid-May and is the most readily available bearded iris.
- Late bloomers: These varieties flower from late May to early June.
- Rebloomers: Some bearded irises can bloom again in the fall, usually from late August to October.
Beardless iris bloom time
These irises do not have a fuzzy beard and often have sleeker, more elegant flowers. Their bloom time is shorter than bearded irises.
- Siberian irises: This type blooms from mid-May to early June.
- Japanese irises: Typically they flower in late June to early July.
- Louisiana irises: These irises bloom in late spring to early summer, around May to June.
- Spuria irises: These tall, elegant irises bloom in late spring to early summer, around May to June.
- Douglas irises: These irises are native to the west coast of North America and bloom from March to May.
When do crested irises flower?
These irises have a small ridge or crest on the petals instead of a beard. They are less common but equally beautiful. They also have a short blooming season.
- Dwarf crested irises: They bloom in early to mid-spring, around March or April.
- Other crested irises: Generally their bloom time is late spring to early summer.
How long do irises bloom?
The length of bloom time for irises also varies depending on the type, climate, and specific variety. Generally, the flowering period for irises lasts anywhere from a few weeks to over a month. 2-3 weeks is typical for most types.
Do irises bloom every year?
Generally speaking, irises will flower each year. However, for this to happen, you must be prepared to divide them every 3-4 years.
Irises (particularly bearded irises) should be divided to prevent overcrowding, which can lead to reduced blooming.
Divide them in late summer or early fall. Discard any old, decayed growth and replant the healthy rhizomes.
Do irises bloom more than once?
Yes, some types of irises can rebloom. This means that they flower more than once in a growing season. These irises are often referred to as “reblooming irises,” “rebloomers“, or “remontant irises.”
For example, Immortality reblooming iris is a pure white iris that blooms in spring and then again in early to mid-fall.
Bearded irises are the most common type of iris known for their ability to bloom more than once a year. They typically have a main bloom period in the spring and then bloom again in the late summer or fall.
Other reblooming iris varieties are Siberian irises, Louisiana irises, and Japanese irises. They all have the potential for a prolific bloom in the fall. However, these three types are less consistent rebloomers than bearded irises.
By selecting a variety of iris types, you can enjoy their stunning blooms for a long period each year.
Share this post about the iris blooming season on Twitter
If you have friends ask “When do iris bloom?”, direct them to this page for the answer. Here is a tweet to share with them:
Discover the magic of iris blooms! 🌸 Learn when your favorite irises will flower and get tips to choose the right type for long-season blooming. #GardenTips #IrisFlowers #BloomTime #Gardening #FlowerLovers #SpringGardening Share on XPin this post for iris bloom time
Would you like a reminder of this post for iris blooming times? Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so you can easily find it later.
Admin note: this post entitled When Do Iris Bloom first appeared on the blog in June of 2013. I have updated the post to add all new photos, a printable bloom time chart, and a video for you to enjoy.
Printable - Iris Blooming Time by Variety
Irises are a popular garden flower with over 250 species. Do you ever wonder "When do irises bloom"?
This handy list will help to answer that question. You can print it out and keep it with your garden journal.
Materials
- Heavy card stock or printer paper
Tools
- Computer printer
Instructions
- Load your printer with heavy card stock or printer paper.
- Choose portrait layout and if possible "fit to page" in your settings.
- Print out the list of iris bloom times and keep it in your garden journal.
- This printable will be helpful when shopping for irises.
Notes
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Lucille
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
This is the first year I have reblooming Irises. Does it take a few years for it to bloom twice? I live between zones 6-7.
Carol Speake
Wednesday 2nd of September 2020
I can't give advice on all of the garden zones. It would be better for you to check with garden centers in your area. They should be able to give you advice on what to look for in your specific region.
Cathy
Tuesday 25th of April 2017
My mother and grandmother had purple irises that smelled like a grape popsicle. Your post reminded me of this iris. Does your's smell?
Carol
Tuesday 25th of April 2017
Hi Cathy. No they are not fragrant. Carol