Few plants put on a spring show quite like the Bearded Iris. Those huge, almost theatrical flowers rise above sword-like foliage in an incredible range of colours — and once established, they’re surprisingly easy to grow.

How to grow it:

☀️ Position: Full sun is essential — aim for at least 6 hours a day.

🌱 Soil: Free-draining soil is key. They hate sitting wet, particularly through winter.

💧 Water: Water regularly while establishing, then they're reasonably drought tolerant.

🌸 Feeding: Feed lightly in early spring. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers or you'll get lots of leaves and fewer flowers.

✂️ Maintenance: Remove spent flower stems and any old or damaged foliage to keep plants tidy.

🌿 Divide: Every 3–4 years, lift and divide crowded clumps after flowering to keep them vigorous and flowering well.

CHARLIE'S No.1 TIP:
Don't bury the rhizome! This is the mistake I see most often. Plant the rhizome right at the soil surface with the top exposed to the sun. Bury it too deeply and you'll get plenty of foliage but very few flowers.