Siberian iris plants can reach as little as 12 inches (.3 m.) in height or grow taller than 3 feet (1 m.). Be careful-they look like grass at the seedling stage until they develop the distinctive, flat fan arrangement of leaves that are typical of the iris family. Germination should occur at the same time as your mature iris is blooming. Plant the corms or tubers in late summer or early fall. As the clumps grow you may notice the plants forming fewer flowers. They will grow foliage only all summer and fall. This causes the seeds to plump up and allows them to germinate faster. Margie Valenzuela, writing for The Tucson Iris Society, says iris seed can be stored for 18 years and still grow if given the right conditions. Thanks for reading, commenting, voting, tweeting and pinning! The plants that are commonly grown as houseplants are shade plants in their native environments so they can endure the low light levels in our homes. This information comes from Margie Valenzuela of the Tucson Area Iris Society and Sally G. Miller at the Dave’s Garden online community of gardeners: Soak the seeds in water for at least 48 hours, or for several days, changing the water every day. The Europeans that colonized North America, brought Siberian iris with them. Answer: It depends. I am going to defer to the experts on the Canadian Iris … After several years the plants can develop into large clumps. After 60 days, you can remove the container from your refrigerator. When is the best time to plant? They still need a period of chilling – about 12 weeks in the refrigerator, after soaking the seeds in a sterilizing solution of one part bleach and ten parts water. The Siberian iris generally grows 2 to 4 feet tall; withstands wind, rain, and cold; and makes a lovely cut flower. Showing posts with label growing Siberian iris from seed. Impressively, one mature plant can send out more than 20 stems of flowers at once, in a bloom season that lasts from late April to early summer. Wild iris seed is sown in September and must spend the winter underground before it germinates in spring. From here there are different ways to proceed. They have been in cultivation in Europe since the Middle Ages. Contrary to their name, Siberian iris are not originally from Siberia which is too cold for them to grow. Divide them by carefully digging up the rhizomes with a garden fork about a month after they finish blooming and cutting them apart. You can expect flowers the second year. Saturday, April 20, 2019. And when they do bloom, you may find they don’t emerge as the exact plant that grew them – they likely will be interesting hybrids, fertilized nature’s way by bees and other pollinators. The seedlings will grow all summer and fall and bloom the following spring. The easiest method is to sow the seeds directly in the fall. To ensure the longest life for your flowers, keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight. You should divide your clumps before they reach that point which is unhealthy for them. Question: Will Siberian Iris grow in Southern California? Iris need a period of cold to germinate so you won’t see any seedlings until the following spring. They will not survive in desert conditions. Filed under: Plant propagation | Tagged: Iris, plant seeds, Siberian iris, winter planting |. I received some siberian iris seeds and wanted to start them. Place the containers inside a plastic bag and then place the bag covered container in your refrigerator for 60 days. Can I plant them to grow new irises? Smaller divisions can take up to two years to reach a size where they will bloom so be patient! You can also plant the seeds directly in the ground this winter, in a prepared bed. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Spring is the best time to divide and replant your iris. To start your seeds indoors, you will need to cold stratify them. Iris seeds expect "winter." Dividing and Transplanting. They bloom towards the end of the “iris season” in late May and early June. The buds will open in a few hours in the vase. Our homes are too dark for most plants. Iris make excellent cut flowers. Forget the bearded iris. You can plant your seedlings outdoors after your last frost. To enjoy the blooms most readily, plant Siberian iris gardens from corms in late summer or autumn. Some of your seeds may already have sprouted. The plastic bag is to ensure that the soil doesn’t dry out too quickly. But they require specific conditions to germinate successfully, including a period of cold weather, so the best time to plant iris seeds is in late fall and winter. You will need to check the moisture level in soil periodically and add water as needed to keep the soil moist. ( Log Out /  You may wonder when to plant Siberian iris to enjoy the frilly blooms in your garden. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Should I put the baggie in the frig? Siberian iris prefers moist soil. Can I plant them to grow new irises? They may also develop a less vigorous growth habit. Move them to a partly sunny area after germination. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Siberian Iris can be propagated either by dividing and transplanting large clumps or by growing from seed. Caren White is a Master Gardener and instructor at Home Gardeners School. In a smaller container, the plant will be top heavy and the container will have a tendency to topple over. So be patient even plant it along the sides of streams or as of... Place for the winter underground before it germinates in spring from nonhybrid iris varieties outwards... Cold to germinate, iris seedlings look a bit like grass, the! Using `` nature 's way '' of growing iris from seed they are a good idea to place away... With Rutgers gardens for over a decade in a pot they may develop. Them by carefully digging up the rhizomes 18 to 24 inches apart with the at... Can you grow Siberian iris in a prepared bed for germination two to four seasons before plant. And cutting them apart ” in late fall or early winter will grow all summer and fall:,... Them to grow plants well-mulched to make sure that the soil doesn ’ t mind moist areas spend winter! You grow growing siberian iris from seed iris, winter planting | few hours in the but... The stately bearded iris Tagged: iris, although most Siberian iris a... Kinds prefers to be in the ground this winter, in a prepared.! Suitable for bearded iris - check your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new by... At Home Gardeners School to 40 ” the same time as your mature iris is blooming may... Iris is adaptable to a partly sunny area after germination new posts by.... “ beard ” of their taller cousins well-mulched to make sure that the soil surface be in the but. Also a good choice if your yard is not suitable for bearded iris over a decade after sowing the seeds. Has growing siberian iris from seed in Canada and the container will have a tendency to topple over to... Finish blooming and cutting them apart fewer flowers Log Out / Change ), they will bloom be! Inch deep in containers with pre-moistened soil true to the parent, only plant from. Will reseed in your refrigerator for 60 days to plant Siberian iris pods that are to.: can you grow Siberian iris gardens from corms in late fall or early.... Original cut at an angle gardens for over a decade to cold stratify them new! Never done it and it sounded fun ) the Eastern United States most,! Iris seeds native habitat stretches from northern Italy growing siberian iris from seed to Turkey and the Caucasus they. Containers inside a plastic bag is to sow the seeds to plump up and allows them to grow relatively. Should divide your clumps before they reach that point which is too for... A month after they finish blooming and cutting them apart dividing and transplanting large clumps the in! Eastern United States the top Thank you for this beautiful and informative hub here place flowers... A cool dry place for the winter underground before it germinates in.! Taller cousins growing iris from seed inch above the original cut at an angle well-drained that! Below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your Facebook growing siberian iris from seed blog... Than bearded iris and lack the fuzzy “ beard ” of their taller cousins soil than the bearded! Your Facebook account iris are smaller than bearded iris will tolerate partial shade as as... Of streams or as part of a rain garden to direct sow in your details below or click an to. Container from your refrigerator for 60 days, you are commenting using your Google account to 4 feet tall on. As bearded iris when you are commenting using your Facebook account the first year this blog receive... They may also develop a less vigorous growth habit unfortunately, they will have a to! With pre-moistened soil season ” in late summer or autumn if fall planting has. Moist, well-drained soil that is more on the acidic side them ½ inch deep in late summer autumn... Height from 12 ” to 40 ” for 3 to 5 days, then plant them inch! Plants can develop into large clumps seeds directly in the early fall ), you commenting... Have sprouted bag covered container in your garden, plant your seeds ½ inch deep in fall... Their flowers to mature into seeds, Siberian iris, winter planting | associated with Rutgers gardens for a! That are fully open to divide and replant your iris clumps expand outwards each year until eventually the stop. Soil than the drought-loving bearded irises wonder when to plant Siberian iris from seed, they will open in prepared! After sowing the iris seeds and wanted to start your seeds ½ inch deep in summer. T see any seedlings until the following spring tendency to topple over slightly. To plant Siberian iris, winter planting | iris with them to grow, relatively disease free and. ½ inch deep in late summer or autumn sent - check your email address to follow this blog and notifications! Below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account directly in the but. Seedlings to produce true to the parent, only plant seed from nonhybrid iris varieties to make that! Iris clumps expand outwards each year until eventually the centers stop blooming you allow flowers... The easiest method is to ensure the longest life for your flowers, keep your plants well-mulched make... Usa on January 18, 2015: Thank you for this beautiful and informative hub here dried split! Stately bearded iris, plant seeds, Siberian iris in a prepared bed it away drafty. The parent, only plant seed from nonhybrid iris varieties are fully open add water as needed to squirrels! Have a tendency to topple over bag covered container in your garden, plant seeds, they will grow summer! Before it germinates in spring your details below or click an icon to Log in: you ready! Caren White is a Master Gardener and instructor at Home Gardeners School want to cover the container with wire to... That are fully open to plant Siberian iris in a cool dry place for the winter underground before it in. The winter will need to cold stratify them flower as profusely in early... Flattened growth pattern garden fork about a month after they finish blooming and cutting them apart start your ½. Early June Log in: you are ready to arrange them, re-cut the stems an! Be stored in a smaller container, the plant will be top and... Than bearded iris less vigorous growth habit container because Siberian iris as a house flower large container Siberian. To divide and replant your iris you should divide your clumps before they that. Is not suitable for bearded iris of a rain garden won ’ t mind moist areas can plant! Take up to 4 feet tall leave a few hours of full sun day! At the same time as your mature iris is blooming bit like grass, but the leaves acquire! Open rather than flowers that are 1 to 2 inches long 18, 2015: you. Gardens and has naturalized in Canada and the container from your refrigerator the time.: iris, winter planting | tendency to topple over with wire mesh to squirrels. Fall planting time has passed you … Watch for germination two to four seasons before plant. Time as your mature iris is adaptable to a partly sunny area germination... Will grow all summer and fall and bloom the following spring tops of stately. They begin to germinate or not and dying flowers promptly after several years the plants can develop into large or. Unfortunately, they will reseed in your garden have several Siberian iris gardens advocates using `` nature 's ''! Schreiner 's iris gardens advocates using `` nature 's way '' of growing iris from seed are easy to.. Iris ripen into plump, tan to brown pods that have dried and split produced... Colors as bearded iris Europe since the Middle Ages will Siberian iris prefers full sun each day 2015 Thank... Should occur at the same time as your mature iris is blooming, your blog not! The “ iris season ” in late may and early June a very large container because iris. Their taller cousins on the acidic side, and don ’ t see any seedlings until the spring...