My mom cuts her Iris foliage back now, in fact I was there yesterday while she was doing it. I cut mine back to, it's on my list of "to do" for the week .

Cheryl

It never occurred to me to cut the foilage on my Irises so I went over to the Iris forum and this is what I found:

"You can cut the stalks if you find them objectionable, but don't cut the leaves unless they are dead, diseased, or dying. Healthy, green leaves will continue to feed the plant for next year's blooms."

It sounds like it's better not to cut.

Kathy

I cut mine back every year because I have summer perennials that grow up and around them. I have yet to see a decrease in blooms in 7 years. I have, however, found that cutting the leaves back causes them to multiply, i.e. lots of little plantlets.

I never cut mine back, just clean up the dead/dying older leaves. They're green and growing for a reason -- to store energy and form buds for next year. When they go dormant here in late July/August then you could trim them back if you must.

Neil

I always trim my back and I find it does increase their blooms. Maybe this is just a flower where there is no wrong or right way, that's good to know :o)

Cheryl

I don't cut mine back either. If I did, we'd have a naked bed. I just got some varigared iris to put in with the regular ones. I LOVE the look of the foliage!