I have a few bearded Irises in my beds but not many, I prefer to grow them seperate in rows in full exposed sun.

Some TB's are just stubborn and take some years to bloom. I just had one after planting it 3 years ago bloom this year for me, so patience does help too ;)

Sharon

I have 6 tall bearded irises and they are growing in a bed with other perennials. Since they are in a large holding area, there is a fair bit of room between the irises and the other plants. There are some near the rose bushes but they bloom prolifically because they get a lot of sun. Marg

Mine are also all mixed in with other perennials. I have found that the TBs can take 3-4 years to bloom for the first time... if they make it through the first winter. But after that, they seem to bloom on a fairly regular basis since by that time there are a few rhizomes in various sizes already. The rhizome seems to need to settle in and get large enough, with enough energy in it, before it will produce a bloom here in our cold zones.

I have Immortality, Crimson Snow, Breakers, Mother Earth and a 'not Pagan's Dance' that bloom regularly for me. Same with Vision in Pink, it bloomed for 2 years in a row and then this year it is taking a break since it has two little rhizomes that need to get a lot larger before they will bloom again. The 20 or so new TB's that I just got this year, from all the orders I did, will probably not bloom here for at least 3-4 years from now, but then just watch the color in the yard go!!

Marcia, you said the rhizomes may be blocked from the light but so are mine. I don't know, but it may be better to be planted in the mixed bed since they may be getting a better snow coverage in the winter also by being there. Why not try the same TB in two places (mixed bed and full sun) to see the difference?

Brenda

Well, one (the oldest one, 'Colour Me Blue') should be able to be divided - the other two in that one area haven't expanded so much. I could divide that one and see which one blooms next year. Another one's leaves have gone all brown, similar to what has happened with a few of my daylilies this year. That could be from the weather.

Brenda, the bed they're in gets a lot of snow coverage, but the irises are also sheltered by the plants that are there. I think i'll try dividing the one and see what happens next year. If the rest don't bloom by then, i'll move them to another spot with better sunlight.