Oh, I didn't know the roots would be dead! Makes sense, though. Seems obvious now. The rhizome will make new roots when it once more had roots to grow into. You can tell I'm not much of an iris grower ;)

Well, you've come to learn as we all have. :-)) Good luck with those iris and if they don't bloom this year they probably will next. Babies present is a good thing!

I would not cut off the roots. Why would you? If they are in fact dead then they won't do anything but they will help to stabilize the rhizome. If they are not dead then you have cut them off.

I purchased dried irises from Ocean State Job Lots last fall. They went in the soil as they were and produced the following spring. I was surprised because I believe that irises wait until the next year to bloom.

It was about 90 days before our first hard frost. (Zone 5).

Have you seen signs of growth?

Good question! Since it was an afterthought, it looks like I never recorded planting location or name. I would have the tag in the garage, though. I remember it was a bi-color: not usually what I go for, but it was SO eager to grow….

I don’t know which of 2 places I put it. Yesterday I saw a rhizome held down with a landscape staple - a sign that I planted it bare root less than a year ago - sprouting small fans in a couple of directions, but some distance from the root, like 3 inches.

There is one other place I might have put it: I’ll check tomorrow.

I located it sometime back but didn't post. Tiny, tiny tips of green, that's it. Its alive and the rhizome is firm. But why it has not grown more than that, is a mystery. Everything around it is growing great. All the other irises (in other beds ) are doing well, including some obtained last summer in trade.

I I was given a clump of about 20 Irises . I divided them up and planted them. Four months, and a winter, later, I see growth. Less than established ones, I cannot see it as "tiny, tiny tips" but they certainly are smaller than the ones in the other bed.

I do know that first-year-in-place rhizomes tend not to bloom.
Maybe something along that line is what is happening.

I am guessing that, despite the green seen when I bought it, it was too late in the year (Nov) and too dry. The fresh irises I got in trade last Aug have buds! I will take a pic of this sorry thing when I get out next.