Hi Karen,

The number of rhizomes you purchase of any given cultivar depends on the immediate effect you want in your garden. In my extremely difficult climate, I purchase only one rhizome of a cultivar because I don't want to waste money on cultivars that turn out not to be quite tough enough to handle my growing conditions. I'd a whole lot rather lose one rhizome than lose three or five of the same cultivar. Also, I don't mind waiting for a single rhizome to increase and grow into a clump that I can split and distribute around my beds.

If you are asking about bearded irises, and since you live in a cold-winter area, I recommend you plant the rhizomes as early in the season as you can. The more time they have to root in before winter, the more likely you'll get bloom the following spring. Up here in northern MN, I try to get bearded irises in the ground by the end of July, and absolutely no later than Aug. 15. As far as transplanting is concerned, many folks will tell you to wait until about 6 weeks after bloom, but I transplant immediately after bloom is finished, again to provide as much rooting time as possible before winter.

There are many fine commercial growers from whom you can purchase irises for significantly less than $10/rhizome. You can find a whole list of commercial growers on the AIS website linked below. Another great option is to attend your nearest iris club sale this summer and buy your irises there. That way you are assured of purchasing irises that are already acclimated to your climate and successfully grown in your area. You can find your nearest iris club through this link:

Ohio iris clubs

Happy irising,

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: commercial iris links

Thanks for the reply! I was thinking to only order a rhizome, possibly two of whatever cultivars I want, just in case one didn't make it, then there's a back up. I've had a few in the past and I remember that they do multiply rather quickly. I kinda figured that it would be a good idea to transplant them after flowering, unless one wanted to hybridize them then you wouldn't want to disturb them while they are producing seed. I just didn't know when would be the cut-off time. Again, thanks!

Karen

Check out Nichollsgardens.com; they have a lot of reblooming irises & at quite reasonable prices.

Irises will multiply quickly when they are happy---soon you will be dividing up your clumps & giving them to the whole neighborhood! I don't bother buying more than one at a time because of limited space & this fact -- that I will soon enough be moving them around.

If I wanted the rhizome to bloom for next year, I would transplant as early as I could, but I'll divide a clump whenever I realize I need to---my neighbors don't care whether I give them some in July, October or even November. They just stick 'em in the ground.

I had a friend who said of all species' transplants "The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps." I find this to be quite true!