Each rhizome will only bloom once, but there may be more than one rhizome blooming at the same time in a clump. Make sure you wait until all of the stalks in the clump have finished blooming before you dig the clump to divide it.

I would also caution you against planting similarly colored irises together (unless they are the same cultivar). If you plant the irises too closely together or allow them to grow into each other before you divide again, it will be considerably more difficult to tell which is which if they are too similar. Also, irises that are too similar tend to compete with, rather than complement, each other. Whereas a purple planted next to a white will make both stand out, that same purple planted next to a more attractive purple will look weak and lackluster.

Just my opinion, of course.

Laurie

I'm probably asking a question that will get me bit. I'm assuming that you are new to growing Iris. Are you aware that when the rhizome finishes blooming, it willhave or may already have baby rhizomes sprouting from around the mother that just bloomed? At this point, I always leave mine so the babies can mature and then seperate the babies from the mom and do whatever with them. Some through the mother away at this point, but I through mine into a sand pile and have gotten many more good plants from the mothers this way.

Now, if what I just said isn't right, please correct me. I'm always open to new ideas. And sometimes(just dont tell my DH) I am just totally wrong. Hope this helps, Mona

I am an old gardener but still have a lot to learn, as do we all. Although I have grown iris for many years, I really did not know if there was only 1 bloom stalk per rhizone. Of course, I have never tried to move them right after blooming, always waiting til fall. Laurie, you are right about placing the colors where they will stand out and not be "outshined" by their neighbors. I don't know if any of mine are named varieties since they were planted by a previous owner, as were the ones where I previously lived. I bought beautiful named varieties back in the eighties! However, these I have now are quite lovely.

You learn something new every day! Isn't the internet a great gardening tool.

I have raised irises for many years and never paid any attention to how they bloomed. Thank you for the new (to me) information.

I think that is good informtion about placement of the colors. I want to start a collect of reds and was wondering if I should keep them together or not....I think not.