Dwarf Crested Iris - Iris Cristata

Dwarf Crested Iris is a delicate perennial with small, slender leaves and charming, blue to purple flowers, each adorned with delicate white or yellow crests on their petals. It is a stunning and versatile plant with numerous landscaping benefits. This low-growing perennial herb is native to North America and thrives in woodland settings, making it an excellent addition to various garden styles.

While exploring the lovely possibilities of dressing up your gardens, they will undoubtedly catch your eye. This is a relatively short perennial plant native to the eastern United States and enjoyed in gardens throughout the country and abroad. While many people are familiar with them, they are often unaware of their appealing traits. What are some of the notable benefits of planting it in your yard?

Add Beautiful Pops of Color With Dwarf Crested Iris

This plant is highly regarded for its many colors. The branches are brown and combine with yellowish-green or green leaves and stunning flowers. The plant reaches four inches in height with the stem and the flower. The fragrant flowers bloom in April and May, revealing shades of purple, lilac, lavender, blue, and pale blue. The rarer colors are pink and white. Additional colors include a white center and vibrant shades of yellow, orange, purple, and dark blue on its outer petals.

Birds Love Dwarf Crested Iris Seeds

The seeds produced by the flowers in the spring are under a centimeter in diameter, so they are easily dispersed by birds and the wind. In addition, this is a creeping plant that expands by shooting out long roots underground. While their growth is not usually noticeable only a year after planting them, the plants’ roots expand exponentially. This allows you to enjoy a blanket of them in your yard after several years.

They Are Shade Loving Perennials 

This plant is commonly found in the wild in wooded areas. It can also grow in the crags of ledges, on a rocky landscape, or in ravines. This makes it ideal for beautifying a formal garden or a native or xeriscape yard with rock features.

Attract Wildlife With It

While some wildlife is welcome and desired in your yard, other species can cause damage. This Dwarf Crested Iris deters deer on your property to safeguard the different plants in your yard that deer may be drawn to. In addition, they are fragrant and attract bees and hummingbirds.

What is the Habitat of It

They grow well in half shade or all shade and so is ideal for woodland gardens or semi-shade borders. It likes well-drained soil, but can grow in sandy or loamy soils.

Do they Blossom

They blossoms in early spring and has pale lavender, violet or pale blue flowers with yellow or white spikes. It is pollinated by butterflies and a lovely addition to a late spring bouquet.

Is It Care-Free

 It is quick and easy to propagate, and the plant needs very little care after you've got it going. It spreads slowly, it produces a carpet hence weeds are suppressed and your compound looks beautiful for the same.

Will They Survive The Pot Life

They can be grown in containers because it is small. Plant it in a drainage pot, then plant it in a shaded place for growth.

It is Able To Be Divided

And eventually the plant gets too crowded, about 3-5 years. Splitting the rhizomes ensures they don't get infected but it also lets new plants survive in your garden.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Spring

Bloom/Foliage Color

Purple

Height at Maturity

Under 12"

Care

Dwarf Crested Iris thrives in well-drained soil and requires regular watering to maintain soil moisture. Fertilize lightly in early spring and avoid over-watering. Remove spent blooms and cut back foliage after flowering to promote new growth.

Plant Reproduction

Dwarf Crested Iris spread quickly and easily using underground stems called rhizomes.

Planting bare-root perennials is best in any season if they are dormant; we only sell dormant plants. Planting them year-round is also excellent if you can get dormant perennials. When your bare-root perennials arrive, soak the roots in water for a few hours to rehydrate them. Lant by digging a hole wide enough to spread the roots comfortably and deep enough to place the top portion crown (where the roots meet the stem) at or slightly above ground level. Position the plant in the hole, backfill with native soil, and gently firm the soil around the roots—water well after planting to settle the soil around the plant and eliminate air. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to keep weeds at bay and moisture locked in, keeping the mulch away from the crown. Irrigate plants regularly during the first few weeks of drought; never water in full sun, and water late in the evenings to ensure the roots are established well. Fertilize sparingly in the first year, using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in subsequent years as needed. 

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