Iris sibirica, True Wild Form

Germination

Sow indoors Mar-Sep. Sow outside/ under glass Sep-Mar. Soak seeds in hot water (not boiling) for 24 hours prior to sowing. Indoors, place seeds and some damp kitchen roll into a small plastic bag. Place in the fridge at 4°C. for 2-3 months. Check seeds regularly as germination can occur while in the fridge. Move to 5-12°C. for germination. Transplant seedlings into 8cm pots as soon as they germinate. To sow outside, soak seeds, then sow 6mm deep into moist well-drained seed compost. Place in a sheltered part of the garden or cold frame/ greenhouse. Allow natural winter cold to offer ideal conditions for germination to occur. Germination takes 30-180 days, do not discard the seed pots prematurely. Grow seedlings on in a cool place. Plant out after hardening off.

Growing

Prefers a moist, humus-rich soil in dappled shade. In dryer soils add plenty of well-rotted organic matter prior to planting out and mulch each spring.

Cultivation

Propagate via seed or division from midsummer to early autumn, plant immediately in flowering positions. Remove any dying foliage in autumn.