I have always mulched around mine, not over them. Helps keep the soil cool and moist, which they prefer

Thanks gardengal!

Hmmm. How close to get? Do you leave an inch? A couple inches? Or right up to it but not over it?

I have a few trees nearby that will end up "mulching" over them as they drop their leaves in the fall each year. Clearing it away may not end up being realistic for me... but if they can handle some leaf litter mulch in addition to bark mulch around them... it might be worth a shot.

I do love Pacific Coast Irises. And we are so lucky to be able to grow them here... it almost seems a shame not to.

I mulch right to the base of the plant but not all that deeply. I kind of fan it out in thickness from a shallow covering immediately up against the plant to a regular mulch depth a couple inches away.

I only grow beardless iris - the only ones I like - and Pacificas are at the top of my list. They used to be easier to find in my area but I now have to work to hunt them down! Most that I can find locally are the usuals - Canyon Snow and no-name purples - but I really like the ones with more distinct coloring like the pinks, rusts, gold and oranges and the blended colors. I was excited to see the link you posted for Leonine Iris Nursery, as they are relatively close by and worth a trek to see what they have on offer.

I love the coloring these hybrids offer and their small, almost orchid-like flowers. And I am happy they thrive in my wooded and mostly shady PNW garden.

Thank you!

I hope you are able to go to Leonine in person in April! I wish I could. What a wonderful trip that would be! If you do go... please post photos!

The few I bought from Leonine last year are slowly getting established this year and will hopefully start to fill out and bloom by next year or the year after. I'm excited for when the 2017 online catalog comes out in April. They all look like little jewels.

Won't make it in April - I am scheduled to teach classes at my nursery every weekend! But I should be able to manage one of their Open Days in May. Hope I don't miss the bloom period.......you never quite know exactly when that might be with our weather.