How do you take care of African irises?

African iris grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It will tolerate several hours of shade but requires at least 6 hours of bright sun to bloom well. Water plants regularly for the first growing season after planting.

Do African iris need full sun?

African iris will bloom best on rich, moist soil but will tolerate moderately dry soil conditions, growing in full sun to partial shade. Plants in the full sun or in sandy soil grow best with regular and frequent irrigation. Cold temperatures (below 25°F) cause leaf browning.

How big does an African iris get?

African iris grows 18 to 24 inches tall and 9 to 12 inches wide. It forms dense clumps that can become so crowded they’ll shove rhizomes out of the ground in the center of the clump.

What time of year does African iris bloom?

The African Iris flowers are unique and striking. Blooming primarily in spring and summer and periodically throughout the winter. Younger plants flower less, but within 2 years of its initial planting, the African Iris will begin to flower year round.

Should African iris be cut back?

The short answer is yes, it’s perfectly okay to completely cut back your Dietes. This bicolor iris was chopped back in late winter and produced new leaves almost immediately.

How do you take care of African iris in the winter?

African Iris Care: Overwintering If they were planted in the fall or they’re planted in an exposed area, they will be more vulnerable to the winter cold. You can also try piling pine straw around the base of your plant to protect it from the cold over the winter.

Should you cut back African iris?

Why are my African iris not blooming?

When you notice iris plants not flowering, the cause can stem from a variety of issues including weather, soil fertility, overcrowding, unhealthy rhizomes, insect or disease attack, planting depth, and even site conditions.

What grows well with African iris?

Most species of coneflowers (Echinacea) are resistant to drought-like conditions and work well as companion plants to African iris. Coneflowers grow in zones 3 through 9 producing daisy-like blooms in a ray of bright colors. Coneflowers grow to about 3 feet tall in full to partial sun.

How do you divide African iris?

To divide your iris, start by lifting the clump of iris plants out of the ground with a spade or fork. If possible, lift the whole mass out whole, but if you are unable to do this, carefully break the clump into smaller parts and lift these out. Next, brush of as much dirt as possible from the iris rhizomes.

Are coffee grounds good for irises?

Compost is an excellent way to enrich the soil, but avoid using a lot of green compost, as the high nitrogen content could lead to rot in damp weather. As irises like having extra nitrogen, consider mixing in some of the following: Used coffee grounds.