This year my bearded iris has not bloomed at all, even though I have it in a sunny, well-drained spot. Can you give me some advice as to what I'm doing wrong? AM, Dublin
Bearded irises are one of the perennial aristocrats of the late spring-early summer garden, with elaborately ruffled and wavy, delicately coloured flowers on stiff, fleshy stems that rise above sword-shaped leaves. As you say, bearded irises need full sun and should be planted with their fleshy rhizomes just above the soil surface so they can bake and ripen in the sun. They also need very well-drained soil, making them perfect for planting at the edge of a sunny path or at the foot of a south- or west-facing wall.
There are several possible reasons why your plant may not flower. One is that your iris has been in the ground for too short a time and needs a little more time to properly establish its fleshy root system before blooming next year. Another is that you accidentally planted the rhizomes too deep. In this case, you should gently lift the plant using a fork or shovel and immediately replant it at a shallower depth as described above. Also, remember that these sun-loving perennials hate to be hidden or overtaken by other plants, as every hour of sunlight is important, especially in our cool, humid climate. Another possible reason for poor flowering is if you cut off the dead leaves last year before they completely withered (as with all bulbous plants, leave the leaves of your bearded iris to die naturally). Also, this beautiful perennial will not grow in a recently fertilized nitrogen-rich soil, because it will grow lush and green at the expense of its magical flowers. Finally, after months of cool, damp weather, there is always the possibility that slugs and snails will eat the irises before they have a chance to flower properly. If it's any consolation, my young plants haven't flowered much this year either. As the saying goes, tomorrow is another day.
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