Dividing Siberian Iris

20 years ago

My 3 year old siberian iris is finally going to bloom for me this year- it's loaded with buds!. It's big enough to probably split 3 or 4 ways and I'd like to move it this year to my new perennial bed.

My question is: Do I treat it like regular iris's and split it right after it's bloomed? Or should I do it now before the buds start opening?

It's my first one so I don't know how long it will bloom for and I don't like to leave transplanting too late in the season.

Thanks for any help, Toots

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Comments (6)

northspruce
20 years ago
Wait till it's done flowering Toots, it won't be more than a week or two. I have one that is finally getting big enough to divide too - it was really slow at first.
sierra_z2b
20 years ago
I have several siberian iris. Its best to divide them after they finish flowering. However, I just moved a couple and divided them them when they were full of buds. The one plant started opening the next day. LOL. The other one took a couple days. I don't recommend dividing when they are in bud though.

I have also found that they need to be divided every year once they get established. They grow in a circle with a bare spot in the middle if not divided. The ones in my garden can usually be divided into 3 or 4 large size clumps.

Sierra
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xtreme_gardener
Original Author
20 years ago
Ok I'll wait. I can't wait to see them bloom!
Thanks, Toots
cailinriley
20 years ago
I've never had much luck with Siberian Irises. I usually get the slow growing, non-blooming variety. LOL

What's the secret? I've read, recently, that they like a slightly acidic soil. They also like a fair amount of moisture, right? And full sun? Any feeding needed?

I love the Siberians and I SO want to grow them well. Any tips would be gratefully accepted! Oh, and photos, please, so I can get really jealous!!
northspruce
20 years ago
Doris, I only have one Siberian (Butter & Sugar, it's not that exciting) and it is really slow growing. I got one bloom out of it the first two years, 2 blooms last year, and maybe 10 or so this year. It formed a nice sized clump last year, maybe because of all the rain. They really do like being wet. And they need full sun too. Here it is this year:
{{gwi:698836}}
This was last year, the yellow showed better in the photo:

It's nothing special but it's a dainty little thing and goes well with roses.
xtreme_gardener
Original Author
20 years ago
Ooooh, I like that one. What do you mean it's nothing special! (Shhhh, it might hear you. Tsk tsk!) Mine looks like it will be purple.

Do you think the new clumps I seperate this season will bloom for me next year? Just wondering because they sound rather stuborn. Ooops, I mean strong willed! LOL.

Doris,
I've never looked into their specific needs. I got my clump about 4 years ago from a neighbor and have moved it once in that time but have never seperated it. This is its first year to bloom. Both locations were in full sun but on the dryer side of perfect and likely had similar pH - about 6.5.
Toots