Stairway to Heaven 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

Stairway to Heaven Bearded Iris displays one of the cleanest two-tone combinations with creamy white standards floating above medium blue falls. Broad, ruffled petals surround crisp white beards, held high above the sword-like blue-green foliage. Iris germanica ‘Stairway to Heaven’ flowers in early midseason, typically in late spring, and the sturdy 40-inch stems carry plentiful buds and are excellent for cutting. The pale standards and blue falls show up best repeated in loose groups.

Introduced by hybridizer Larry Lauer in 1993, Stairway to Heaven earned the American Dykes Medal in 2000 after receiving several earlier iris awards. Its vigorous, upright growth gradually develops into broader clumps, with mature plants spreading about 18 to 24 inches. Established bearded iris tolerate periods of dry weather and are generally avoided by deer and rabbits. Use this selection along sunny fences, through the middle or back of perennial borders, beside walkways, or in cutting gardens where the tall flower stalks are easy to harvest.

Stairway to Heaven Bearded Iris Bulbs Care

Grow in full to partial sun, providing at least 5 hours of direct sunlight for dependable flowering. Plant the rhizome shallowly in well-drained loamy, sandy, or amended clay soil, leaving its upper surface exposed or barely covered. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH of approximately 6.1 to 7.2 is suitable.

Irrigate during the first growing season when the upper inch of soil becomes dry. Mature clumps usually need supplemental water only during extended dry periods, since constantly wet soil around the rhizome encourages rot. Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer in early spring and a second light feeding after flowering to support development of the following year’s buds.

Cut finished flower stalks near the base once all buds have opened and faded. In fall, shorten declining foliage to about 6 inches and remove old leaves that could harbor iris borers. Divide crowded clumps every three to four years in late summer, retaining firm outer rhizomes with healthy leaf fans for replanting.

Stairway to Heaven Bearded Iris Bulbs Spacing

Space rhizomes about 18 to 24 inches apart to accommodate mature clumps and maintain airflow around the foliage. For container growing, use a wide pot at least 12 to 14 inches deep with generous drainage and keep the upper portion of the rhizome exposed. In zones 4 and 5, containers benefit from winter shelter in an unheated garage or another protected location.

Stairway to Heaven Bearded Iris Bulbs Companion Plants

Russian sage is a strong landscape partner in sunny, well-drained beds, with its airy summer flowers taking over after the iris bloom has finished. Potentilla can provide a low shrub layer nearby and shares the iris preference for sun and well-drained sites. In large patio containers, calibrachoa can trail around the edge while the iris supplies vertical height, provided the pot drains quickly and the rhizome is not covered by surrounding plants.

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