I know this is going to sound a little absurd, but I am new to Irises, and have no shame in asking for help.

I want to buy a dwarf re blooming Iris and I understand 'Plum Wine' is the most blue/purple reliable.

When I went to look for a vendor I came to https://www.stoutgardens.com/p.... I read it was a rhizome, and that it should be planted in clumps.

Here is my confusion, how many do I buy since they come in a quantity of 1 and are rhizomes, to plant as a clump?

Kind Regards
Ami

One rhizome will become a clump in a few years. Especially the little guys seem to grow faster then the tall ones. If you want them to clump faster you could get 2 or 3 of each kind and plant them with their toes pointing at one another. The heal is the part where the leaves com out and those should be at opposite ends as that's where the increases come and they need the space.

Amy!

See you are a Michigander. There are several of us in this forum.

Is it your goal to have a large bunch of one color iris in a particular space? The dwarf iris are fast growers and will make clumps quickly, but if you intend to fill a space then you may wish to get more than one as Tom suggested above.

If you want splashes of different colors then plant each different named iris at least one foot apart. For example, let's say you have the following and want to have them fill an edging:


When you first plant them, it will look like a foot is pretty far apart, but they will fill that gap in no time as they grow and increase.

Welcome, Ami.

I am fairly new to irises too, but I agree that many of the dwarf iris will form clumps in a year or two.

I got a dwarf from Superstition only a month ago and it's already forming a clump! Those little guys are crazy.

And really lovely with their multiple blooms.

Welcome, Ami!

Ami!

You'll learn a bunch here!

LynNY said: You'll learn a bunch here!

altho' i am new to this group, i've been growing irises for 40+ years, and oblivious on REALLY how to grow them. this group has been generous, informative, accomplished,and wonderful about imparting their shared knowledge and expertise.

if you have time, go back to earlier posts and do more lurking, as i did. you will roll w/laughter, your eyes will roll , too, sometimes. but others will make your sides ache and tears will roll down your cheeks with the fun and the pokes; all in great fun. the topper is you will gain a whole new insight on how to appreciate the group and of course, the iris.

i hope you won't be in too much pain, after trying to keep current with all the posts; carpal tunnel, that is.

it has been a new experience for me being on a forum. hope you'll enjoy everyones' company as i have. to the iris forum!

Out "Winter" discourse is quite amazing! It will elicite many emotions, tears, and eruptions of jovial laughter

& people post pictures during the winter. Glad that you are here & like the dwarf irises.

Welcome Ami.

Enjoy the forum.

Have to agree that the little ones can be amazing. I only had 2-3 but this year added a dozen or so. Blueberry Tart is an SDB rebloomer that was planted about 3 weeks ago. It now has a good sized bud on it.

So sorry I posted your name wrong earlier....

Hello Lestv,

And thank you for the questions/thoughts.

"Is it your goal to have a large bunch of one color iris in a particular space? The dwarf iris are fast growers and will make clumps quickly, but if you intend to fill a space then you may wish to get more than one as Tom suggested above."

I am looking for a clump of same color irises, in a deep color, that rebloom and be at the front of garden right next to the mail box. In Michigan I have seen these uniformed Irises at different businesses but no one knows what they are.

Any Suggestions?

lovemyhouse said:Welcome, Ami.

Thank you Debbie for the Welcome

tveguy3 said:One rhizome will become a clump in a few years. Especially the little guys seem to grow faster then the tall ones. If you want them to clump faster you could get 2 or 3 of each kind and plant them with their toes pointing at one another. The heal is the part where the leaves com out and those should be at opposite ends as that's where the increases come and they need the space.

Oh WOW thank you for that information Tom. That is great information to know for the future. So with that in mind I could actually do a circle effect with the toes all pointing inward?

DaveinPA said:Welcome Ami.

Enjoy the forum.

Have to agree that the little ones can be amazing. I only had 2-3 but this year added a dozen or so. Blueberry Tart is an SDB rebloomer that was planted about 3 weeks ago. It now has a good sized bud on it.

Thank you very much for the suggestion.

When I was back up in Michigan last May I noticed that there were lots of people who had planted clumps of the same dwarfs at the front of their houses, especially in the area between the sidewalk and the street. It looked really nice.

I have had no luck with getting dwarfs to rebloom down here in NC, so I can't say which would be best. I am sure Tom can tell you which of his rebloom in WI.