Iris is exotic as orchid, a cinch to grow

SANDY — If you're looking for a tough but beautiful plant, consider the iris, which thrives in harsh, urban environments.

I often tell people these plants are one of the remarkable survivors. Visit a neglected cemetery or an abandoned farm and you'll find these are one of the few surviving plants.

LaVar Krantz, of the Utah Iris Society, loves these hardy plants. Krantz first started growing iris plants after his first wife passed away. "I wanted some flowers for the cemetery, so I got in touch with a breeder and grower in Provo. He sold me a beautiful white variety called Swan Ballet, and I was hooked," Krantz said.

In spite of their ability to survive harsh Utah conditions, the flowers are as exotic as any tropical orchid. While they do survive difficult conditions, they bloom much better with a little extra care.

Bearded iris require eight hours of full sun. Although the plants are drought-tolerant, they do best with moderate amounts of water. They also grow best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. After selecting your site, prepare your soil by spading or turning it over with a garden fork at least 10 inches deep. Work some coarse organic matter into the soil and add fertilizer, if needed.

The most common iris in our area grow from rhizomes — or underground, spreading stems. (Although there are some iris that don't grow from rhizomes.) Each season the plants send out new underground stems that eventually produce new blooming shoots.

Krantz specializes in tall bearded iris. "I grow some of the others, but I like these the best," he says.

The biggest problem facing the plants is over watering. Other than that, they are usually pest free. Keeping the plants on the dry side discourages slugs and snails, although you'll need to do some baiting or slug/snail collecting as necessary.

In my opinion, the most serious pest problem for iris growers in Utah is weeds. Never let grasses or broadleaf weeds take over your iris beds. And don't make iris compete with nearby grass or weeds for food and water, or they'll grow poorly, and the blossoms will suffer.

While it is not a pest problem, Krantz offers this advice on keeping the plants healthy:

"The biggest problem is that people do not dig and divide their iris. You will get better blooms if they are not too crowded."