Bronze Dutch Iris Blend Bulbs

Size

Bronze Dutch Iris Blend combines yellow, orange, and red flowers into a warm-toned planting that reaches 20 to 24 inches tall. The three flower varieties are carried above narrow green foliage on a straight, slender stem. The 25-bulb pack contains 8 cm bulbs of Iris hollandica 'Eye of the Tiger', 'Golden Beauty', and 'Lion King'. This group flowers from late spring into early summer, catching the period between many spring bulbs and the first wave of summer perennials. Dutch iris grows from bulbs and can perennialize in USDA zones 5-9. Its upright habit uses little ground space, making the blend useful between shrubs, through narrow borders, or in a dedicated cutting bed where stems can be harvested easily. The long flower stems are nice in arrangements, especially when cut as buds begin showing color. Deer and rabbits generally pass over iris.Bronze Dutch Iris Blend Bulbs CarePut Bronze Dutch Iris Blend Bulbs in the ground during fall after temperatures have cooled and before the soil freezes, placing each bulb 4 to 5 inches below the surface. Position them in full to partial sun, as strong spring light is needed for sturdy stems and abundant flowering. A well-drained loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH around 6.0 to 7.0 is best; dense clay should be amended or planted on a raised section that sheds excess water.Give newly planted bulbs one thorough watering to settle the surrounding soil, then let autumn rainfall supply most of the remaining moisture. Once foliage begins growing in spring, water when the soil has dried several inches down, continuing through flowering until the leaves age and bulbs go dormant. During summer dormancy, avoid frequent irrigation over the planting area because persistently wet soil can shorten the life of Dutch iris bulbs.Apply a balanced bulb fertilizer as shoots first appear, using the label rate and keeping concentrated fertilizer away from direct contact with emerging growth. For vase use, cut stems when the buds are colored and beginning to loosen. After flowering, remove the spent bloom stems but keep the green leaves until they yellow and finish their seasonal cycle. Established bulbs can remain undisturbed as long as flowering stays strong and the site continues to drain well.Bronze Dutch Iris Blend Bulbs SpacingPlace bulbs about 3 to 4 inches apart in beds, grouping 10 or more together to develop the blended bronze effect across the planting. For containers, choose a pot at least 8 to 10 inches deep with generous drainage holes and position bulbs roughly 3 inches apart. Shelter above-ground pots from repeated hard freezing in colder areas of the growing range, and keep the potting mix only lightly moist through winter.Bronze Dutch Iris Blend Bulbs Companion PlantsLavender shares the blend's preference for sun and freely draining soil, and its cooler flower tones nicely contrast the yellow, orange, and red iris flowers. Distylium works well as a permanent shrub companion in larger beds, supplying evergreen structure behind the narrow iris stems. African daisy can follow the iris season in a large patio container, taking over flowering as temperatures rise.