The plant I know as 'bearded Iris' has a broad pale stem that sits half on the surface of the soil, and half resting in the soil. It has fleshy roots coming out almost like caterpillar legs(!) from underneath.

It is really important that the part above the ground gets good sunlight over the growing season. Keep it free of any cover by soil or mulch.

If you got them as 'fans' then they will need time to settle in, develop a nice plump rhizome/stem, get their roots onto gathering food, and making new leaves before they put up stems and buds.

Given that it's coming along to August then it is likely the ends of the season's leaves will be starting to brown off.

(There are other Iris which have beards. I'm guessing that the ones you have might be the gloriously coloured varieties rather than the more subdued species, though.)

If I've gone down the wrong track and you have the bulb Iris such as the English or Dutch Iris - they may have needed a season to settle in to your garden. Fingers crossed for next year.

Well, I'm pretty sure these are bearded Iris. At least, that's what the picture on the package said. I got them as rhizomes, and I was afraid they wouldn't grow at all because they seemed so dry (got em on sale). I forgot where I put them, and one day I was surprised to see a leaf here and there. Both now have two sets of fan leaves. Just no flowers.

When all the leaves turn brown, should I dig em up and separate them? Or just leave them alone?

I also bought Dutch Iris bulbs and they all bloomed nicely.

I will hope for flowers next year! Thanks!
Suzi

You can get a total iris education on the iris forum!

Most bearded irises bloom only once a year in the spring, & moving/transplanting/digging them up/letting them dry out/separating them sometimes sets them back a year or so.

I moved some irises in the middle of summer one year, & they didn't bloom until the third spring.

Best luck!