Plant field guide
Iris (Dutch)
Elegant bulbous iris with delicate, refined blooms in rich purples, blues, and yellows. A classic spring cut flower grown worldwide for florists. Naturalizes freely in well-drained soil.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Iris x hollandica
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Height
- 18 in (46 cm) – 24 in (61 cm)
- Spread
- 4 in (10 cm) – 6 in (15 cm)
- Spacing
- 4 in (10 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 5–9; average annual extreme minimum from -20°F (-28.9°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: June, July.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Plant 3–4 inches deep in fall in well-drained soil. Bulbs rot in wet, heavy clay. Allow foliage to die back naturally after bloom. Excellent vase life as a cut flower.
Pruning
Remove spent blooms after flowering. Allow foliage to die back naturally — do not cut until yellowed.
Fertilizer
Bulb fertilizer
At planting in fall and again as shoots emerge in spring
Mulch
Light mulch in cold climates to protect bulbs.