Blueberry Bliss Bearded Iris Bulbs

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

40 in.

Mature Spread

18-24 in.

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Blueberry Bliss Bearded Iris carries large, heavily ruffled medium-blue flowers high above the border. The blue beards are touched with yellow at the throat, and each flower can reach roughly 6 inches across. The tall stems reach about 40 inches high and carry numerous buds, giving this early-midseason bloomer plenty of stems for cutting. We find pale pink, cream, or silver-toned foliage nearby gives the blue flowers maximum visual definition.

Introduced by Schreiner in 2004, this Iris germanica received an American Iris Society Honorable Mention in 2006 and an Award of Merit in 2009. Its sword-shaped foliage forms upright fans below the tall flower stalks. Mature clumps gradually enlarge as the rhizomes increase in USDA zones 4-9. It performs well in sunny perennial beds, cutting gardens, raised borders, and large containers where drainage can be closely managed. Deer and rabbits generally avoid bearded iris, and established plants handle periods of dry weather well.

Blueberry Bliss Bearded Iris Bulbs Care

Late summer into early fall is the preferred planting window for Blueberry Bliss Bearded Iris Bulbs, giving the rhizome time to develop new roots before cold weather. Site it in full sun for the strongest flowering, though half-day sun can still support bloom. These irises need well-drained garden soil with a neutral to mildly alkaline pH of about 6.1 to 8.5. Lay the rhizome horizontally with its roots spread downward and leave the upper surface exposed or only lightly covered, since deep planting can interfere with flowering and increase the chance of rot.

For newly planted rhizomes, water deeply when the surrounding soil begins drying several inches below the surface. Mature clumps can tolerate longer dry intervals, but they benefit from supplemental water during prolonged spring drought while stalks and buds are developing. Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer around the root zone as new growth begins in spring, and reapply lightly in poor soil after bloom. Avoid piling mulch across the rhizome crowns, particularly in humid or poorly ventilated sites.

Once flowering has finished, remove the spent stalks at their bases and retain healthy green leaves through the remainder of the growing season. Cut declining foliage back to about 6 inches in late fall and remove dead plant material that could shelter iris borers. Crowded clumps are best lifted and divided in late summer every three to four years, selecting firm younger rhizomes from the outside of the clump for replanting.

Blueberry Bliss Bearded Iris Bulbs Spacing

Space rhizomes about 18 to 24 inches apart so their fans have room to expand and air can circulate freely around the crowns. For patio culture, choose a broad container at least 12 inches deep with generous drainage and a coarse, fast-draining potting mix, positioning the rhizome close to the soil surface. Containers in zones 4-5 benefit from a protected winter location that remains cold while shielding the root ball from repeated severe freezing.

Blueberry Bliss Bearded Iris Bulbs Companion Plants

Russian sage is a strong landscape partner for Blueberry Bliss because both favor sun, drainage, and relatively dry conditions once established, and their later summer flowers extend interest after the iris season ends. Potentilla shrubs also suit sunny borders, providing a low woody backdrop and a long flowering season around the taller spring iris stems. Marigolds can fill a large shared container during summer, using the open space around the iris fans after flowering has finished. 

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