Harvest of Memories Reblooming Bearded Iris Bulbs

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

38 in.

Mature Spread

18-24 in.

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Harvest of Memories Reblooming Bearded Iris Bulbs send up clear yellow flowers in spring and can repeat the display from late summer into fall. The blooms feature arched standards, broad falls, yellow beards, and a light sweet fragrance. High bud production and sturdy stems about 38 inches tall give established clumps a substantial presence in sunny borders. In our experience, the yellow really shines near blue and purple perennials.

Bred by Lloyd Zurbrigg and introduced in the mid-1980s, Harvest of Memories became known among iris growers for dependable rebloom under suitable conditions. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-9 and gradually forms broader clumps as new offsets grow from the original plant. Use it through the middle or back of a perennial border, beside a cutting bed, or in a large sunny patio container where the flowers can be viewed up close. Established bearded iris handles dry spells well, and deer and rabbits generally avoid the foliage and rhizomes.

Harvest of Memories Reblooming Bearded Iris Bulbs Care

Plant rhizomes in late summer to early fall, giving them time to root before cold weather, and keep the upper surface of the rhizome exposed or barely covered with soil. Full sun is best for flowering, although partial sun can be suitable in hotter climates if plants receive at least five hours of direct light. Plant in well-drained loamy, sandy, or amended clay soil with a pH of about 6.1 to 8.5, keeping rhizomes away from low spots that remain wet after rain.

Water thoroughly after planting and keep the root zone lightly moist for the first four to six weeks while new roots establish. Mature clumps can dry somewhat between waterings, but supplemental irrigation during prolonged late-summer drought can support the rebloom cycle. Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 as spring growth begins and again after the first flowering period, keeping granules away from direct contact with the rhizomes.

Cut finished flower stalks near their bases after each flowering cycle and remove yellowed or spotted leaves as needed through the season. After frost or once foliage declines in fall, trim the remaining fans to about 6 inches and clear away dead plant material that can harbor iris borers. Apply a loose layer of mulch before the first winter in colder parts of its range to protect roots. Divide crowded clumps every three to four years in late summer, retaining firm younger rhizomes with healthy roots and leaf fans. 

Harvest of Memories Reblooming Bearded Iris Bulbs Spacing

Space rhizomes about 18 to 24 inches apart so the clumps have room to expand and air can circulate around the foliage. For container growing, choose a broad pot at least 12 inches deep with large drainage holes and a fast-draining potting mix, leaving the rhizome top exposed at the surface. In zones 4-5, move containers to a protected unheated location for winter or insulate the pot so repeated freezing does not damage the rhizomes.

Harvest of Memories Reblooming Bearded Iris Bulbs Companion Plants

Catmint makes a strong border companion because its lower blue-purple flowers sit well beneath the tall yellow iris stems and both plants thrive in sunny, well-drained sites. For a later layer of color, asters can flower around the time Harvest of Memories begins its second cycle, extending interest through the same section of the border. In large containers, calibrachoa can trail over the rim beneath the upright iris fans in ample sun and well-drained soil.

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