As is the case with many bulb flower names, ‘Iris’ first makes its appearance in Greek mythology. Iris was the messenger of the gods. She travelled from the heavens to earth and back in the form of a rainbow. So it comes as no surprise that iris bulbs are available in so many different colours. The most well-known type however, is the blue-purple iris laevigata. All types of iris have six petals, of which three stand upright and three hang down. The hanging petals are known as the flowers ‘lip’. Despite irises having a predictable shape, they have many redeeming qualities. Planting iris bulbs in your garden will guarantee colour.

Planting Iris Bulbs

While irises may all have the same shape, they do have different demands. Each type of iris has its own soil preferences. Some irises like wet soil so much they don’t mind standing in water, while others prefer to keep their feet dry. But what they all have in common is their love of a nice sunny location. In this respect irises are just like people! To plant iris bulbs, dig a trench about 10cm deep and plant the bulbs about 8cm apart. Always plant your bulbs with the point facing upwards, so that the flower can grow in the right direction. Make sure to water the bulbs frequently. Want to know more? We have information about planting bulb flowers and other planting tips.

Planting a variety of different colours together is one of the best ways to plant iris bulbs. This will certainly give your garden a rainbow of colour. Just make sure that you choose irises with similar soil requirements. When you irises bloom in March, you can also choose to cut them and place them in a vase in your home. Nothing beats a bouquet of flowers from you own garden! Towards the end of summer, remove any dead leaves left after flowering, so that the bulb can conserve its energy for the next cycle of growing and flowering.

Buying Iris Bulbs Online

The most beautiful iris varieties are of course available from the online shop at Fluwel.com. We specialise in flower bulbs and iris bulbs are no exception. We only sell top quality, large bulbs – but still keep our prices low. Feel free to look around our website and see for yourself. You will also see that ‘a large assortment’ is an understatement. We have all the flowers bulbs you could possibly wish for. Timeless favourites such as tulips, hyacinths, muscari and amaryllises – but also less well-known bulb flowers such as ixia and leucojum. We highly recommend experimenting with various types of flowers to see what sits you and your garden best. Please refer to our planting tips and bulb information if you are unsure of what to do. You are also welcome to contact us with any questions you might have.