{"product_id":"bearded-iris-bulbs-black","title":"Bearded Iris Bulbs - Black","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is a pre-order item that is expected to ship in Late October to November for fall planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product will ship separately. \u003cem\u003eThis product only ships to the lower 48 states. No shipping outside the USA. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e365+ Days to maturity. Fall Planting. Spring Blooming \u003cem\u003eIris germanica\u003c\/em\u003e. Black Bearded Iris Flower Rhizomes. Non-GMO, hybrid. Perennial in zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Deer resistant. Attracts pollinators. Displays dramatically dark, near-black blooms in late spring to early summer. Recommended for growing in flower beds and borders. Bearded irises are great for use in the landscape as cut flowers, borders, backgrounds, or focal points. It has an upright growth habit with tolerance to drought, deer, and rabbits. Black bearded iris plants are not edible. True black flowers are exceptionally rare in nature, and these deep, velvety, near-black bearded irises are as close as the garden gets — a bold, sophisticated choice that creates striking contrast against lighter spring blooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!--split--\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!--attr--\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eIris germanica\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Perennial in zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0-1 inches. Dig a 4-inch deep trench and position rhizomes to peek through at the surface level.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Spacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12-24 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30-36 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12-24 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Spread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12-24 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Upright\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Preference:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6.8.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature Preference:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60-75 F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight Preference:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePests and Diseases:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bearded irises can be susceptible to iris borers, slugs, snails, and aphids. Iris borers are the most serious pest — remove dead foliage in fall to reduce overwintering egg masses. Generally low-maintenance when planted in well-drained soil with adequate sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlack Bearded Iris Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep purple-black\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEasy\/Hard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDirect Sow:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, direct sow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart Indoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape Use:\u003c\/strong\u003e Background, borders, mass planting, and containers (12 inches wide and deep minimum).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought, Heat, Deer and Rabbit Resistant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!--endattr--\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Non-GMO Black Bearded Iris Flower Rhizomes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant your iris rhizomes at least six weeks before the first hard frost. Choose a spot with full sun — at least six hours of direct sun daily is essential for reliable blooming — and well-draining soil. Amend heavy clay soils with coarse sand and compost to improve drainage. A slightly acidic pH of around 6.8 is ideal. Unlike true bulbs, bearded iris rhizomes should not be buried. Dig a shallow trench about 4 inches deep, form a mound of soil in the center, and set the rhizome on top of the mound with the roots spreading downward. The top of the rhizome should sit at or just above the soil surface. In very hot climates, light coverage of up to 1 inch is acceptable to prevent scorching, but burying them deeper than that will suppress blooming. Space rhizomes 12-24 inches apart to reduce the need for division in subsequent years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater the rhizomes in at planting to settle the soil and encourage root establishment. After that, water infrequently but deeply — most bearded irises require little supplemental watering beyond natural rainfall except during extended drought. Fertilize in early spring with a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10, and again after blooming. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers as these promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Remove spent flower stalks after blooming and cut foliage back to about 6 inches in late fall to reduce overwintering iris borer populations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Black Bearded Irises in Containers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor containers, use a roomy pot — a minimum of 12 inches wide and deep — with excellent drainage. Fill the pot to 1 inch below the rim and plant as described above, keeping the rhizome top exposed. Water only when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry. Container-grown irises benefit from being overwintered in a garage or shed in colder zones to protect the rhizomes from repeated hard freezes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBlack Bearded Iris in the Flower Garden\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe near-black coloring of these bearded irises is genuinely rare and dramatic — in a season dominated by pastels and brights, a deep purple-black iris stops people in their tracks. The tall, stately blooms make them natural focal points in mixed perennial borders and striking companions for lighter-colored irises, white or yellow tulips, and early summer perennials. Mass plantings create a bold, sophisticated sweep of dark color that is unlike anything else blooming at the same time of year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHarvesting Black Bearded Iris\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack bearded iris makes an elegant and dramatic cut flower. Harvest when the flower buds are just beginning to open and show color, using a clean, sharp knife or shears. Cut early in the morning, when the stems are fully hydrated, making a clean 45-degree angle. Place stems immediately in lukewarm water. Each stem carries multiple buds that open in succession, extending the vase life considerably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Black Bearded Iris Garden Rhizomes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBearded irises belong to the species \u003cem\u003eIris germanica\u003c\/em\u003e, also known as the German iris, and have been cultivated for thousands of years — appearing in ancient Egyptian palace art and inspiring the French fleur-de-lis. The genus name Iris comes from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, a fitting reference given the extraordinary color range of the species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue black flowers do not exist in nature — what we call black irises are in fact an exceptionally deep purple or blue-violet that reads as black in most lighting conditions. The development of near-black bearded irises has been a long-standing pursuit among hybridizers, with celebrated varieties in this color class including Superstition, Before the Storm, and Black is Black. The rhizomes offered here are selected for their deep, dramatic coloring in this tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIrises are not edible and are considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses if ingested. Those with sensitive skin are advised to wear gloves when handling the rhizomes and foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMake Planting Bulbs Easy with a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.trueleafmarket.com\/products\/japanese-bulb-planter-garden-hand-tools\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBulb Planter Hand Tool\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTips From Our Gardeners\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe single most common mistake with bearded irises is planting the rhizomes too deep. If your irises produce plenty of foliage but few or no blooms, chances are the rhizomes are buried. Dig them up, reset them at the surface level, and the following spring you should see a much better bloom. Full sun and shallow planting are the two non-negotiable requirements for consistent flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 20.7517%;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" height=\"89\" width=\"89\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2016\/2681\/files\/Jerry-Sawyer.jpg?v=1733348096\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 75.2483%;\"\u003e \u003cem\u003e- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eBlack Bearded Iris Flower Rhizomes Per Package:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 Rhizome Bag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 Rhizome Bag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNon-GMO Black Bearded Iris Rhizomes are available for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueleafmarket.com\/pages\/shipping-information\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFast Free Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e on qualifying orders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!--split--\u003e\n\n","brand":"Mountain Valley Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"1 Bulb","offer_id":45122721841267,"sku":"83898","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3 Bulbs","offer_id":45122721874035,"sku":"83899","price":42.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2016\/2681\/files\/1779909343_bearded_iris_black_comp_569d1cc0-2757-442e-994d-8eb079bbcdf0.jpg?v=1782149661","url":"https:\/\/store.trueleafmarket.com\/products\/bearded-iris-bulbs-black","provider":"True Leaf Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}