I picked up a copy of 'The Iris Book' by Molly Price at the used book store and it is a great informative book for beginners. Also covers beardless (as well as beardeds).

Sometimes these older books present pertinent information in a straightforward logical fashion ~ this book is one of those.

While it does not go into a lot of great detail on things, I really like the Reader's Digest New Illustrated Guide to Gardening (Hardcover) and reference it a lot throughout the gardening season.

In looking at the Index under Irises, it covers
bearded
beardless
breeding hybrids
bulbous types
classifications
cutting stems
dividing
feeding and watering
flowering periods
mulching
planting and soil
problems
rhizomatous types
rock plants
seed pod removal
staking
in water gardens
borers
soft rot

This book has got it all, though like I said, it doesn't go into a lot of great details, but gives the good basics on about everything...annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, lawn, trees, fruits and veggies, trees, roses, bulbs, plant disorders, weeds, beneficial insects, etc.

Sue