March 19th, 2002
Dutch Iris
Dutch iris ‘H. C. van Vliet’. Austin, Texas.
Last fall, I impulsively bought two packages of Dutch iris from Home Depot. The grower listed is Van Zyverden. This is the first year I’ve tried to grow bulbous irises. But my Mom, in Las Vegas, has great luck with hers. The packages did not provide much information, so I gleaned the following from the net.
Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’
Dwarf or miniature irises (to 4 inches tall) with proportionally large flowers. ‘Harmony’ is cornflower blue with yellow accents. Should bloom in February. Suited for pots or rock gardens.
Iris xiphium hybrid ‘Van Vliet’
(I assume this is ‘H C van Vliet’)
A group of hybrid irises, commonly known as Dutch irises, developed by the Dutch firm Tubergen from the Spanish iris, Iris xiphium, and Iris tingitana. Requires rich, well-drained soil and grows well in zones 8 and 9. Blooms in June or July. Height to 24 inches. Makes a good cut flower.
“…a bitoned blue with midblue standards and lighter blue falls with a small orange signal. Mid season bloom.” Graeme Grosvenor. Iris: Flower of the Rainbow. p. 208.
References
* World Online: Dutch Iris
* American Iris Society
Unable to find any specific growing guidelines on the net, I turned to Graeme Grosvenor’s Iris: Flower of the Rainbow and came across these encouraging passages.
I. xiphium “bulbs grow naturally in hot, dry summer conditions and unless you can provide soil that is hot and dry in summer and not overly cold in winter, the bulbs should be lifted…” Well if that doesn’t describe Austin weather exactly. The next paragraph is equally encouraging.
“I. xiphium will grow best in a heavy soil with good drainage…They enjoy an alkaline soil.”
Zanthan Gardens History
2002-01-09. According to the package instruction, in the South (zones 7, 8, or 9) Dutch Irises need to be chilled six to eight weeks before planting. So, dutifully, I put the ones I bought last fall in the fridge and didn’t get around to planting them until today. The ‘Harmony’ bulbs were already drying out, so it’s obvious that I waited too long.
2002-03-19. ‘H C van Vliet’ blooms. It’s the first and, probably, only flower for 2002. The hard freeze in late February froze the buds just as they were emerging from the ground.
2002-11-08. The Dutch iris bulbs, ‘H C van Vliet’; are sprouting. I dug them up separated and replanted them in the same spot by the ‘Heritage’ rose. There are 11 rooted bulbs sprouting and 7 bulbets.
2003-04-11. Although the plants grew well this year, they didn’t bloom. (The Iris reticulata didn’t come back at all.) Apparently to flower Iris xiphium need a longer cold period than we get here in Austin. I dig them up and will chill them this fall before replanting them. Given how cheap they are, it’s probably not worth the trouble. Especially since I only had one flower in two years.
Tags: Iris xiphium, Dutch iris, bulb, flower, garden
by M Sinclair Stevens in Austin, Texas
September 8th, 2005
I too bought dutch iris several years ago from Home Depot here in Phoenix, AZ. My soil is a mixture of the clay soil of Phoenix, and humus from Home Depot. My bulbs have been in the ground for about 7 years and have grown and multiplied with abandon. Since I want to change the beds where they are located this year I am digging them up. I think I have enough to plant my entire yard if I’d want to. I enjoy them each spring and love that I don’t have to do anything to them but enjoy. I have purple, white, yellow and a mixture of blue and white flowers. Since I don’t know which bulbs are what my new gardens should be a riot.
Marilyn, they must like the dry soil of the desert. My mom in Las Vegas has success with them too. However, here in central Texas, mine all rotted away after a couple of years. — mss
September 24th, 2005
I got some seeds from my neighbors dutch iris. Can you plant those? There were several seeds in a big seed pod. I would appreciate an answer if anyone knows.
September 26th, 2005
Marilyn, I am in El Paso and about to plant some “Dainty Dutch Iris Bulbs. When did you water yours. A web site says not to water until growth appears.
Also, has anyone ever used Terra-Sorb Hydragel and what were your results?
June 2nd, 2007
Looking for information on planting and raising “Iris/Dutch Iris” from seed. I had one (1) tall (30-31″) Iris come up this year. It produced 12 seeds. I just planted them in single seed small plant trays, and have them under lights. I’m using a spritzer to water them. Is there any special fertilizer, i.e. 4-12-4, etc. Any and all help appreciated.
Sorry, I can’t help you. I’ve never tried to raise Dutch iris from seed and the only bulbs I had died long ago. Mayb. one of my clever readers can help. –mss