tall bearded reblooming iris

Tall bearded reblooming iris (Iris 'St. Petersburg') should be watered moderately. In general, water the plants once a week in the spring and twice a week during the summer. Provide about 1 inch of water each time, which should be evenly distributed over the area surrounding the plant. During periods of intense heat and extended dry weather, the plants may require more frequent watering, up to twice a week during the spring and 3 times a week during the summer. Remember to water deeply, allowing the water to reach several inches into the soil.

Tall bearded reblooming iris (Iris 'St. Petersburg') requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sun per day, to bloom well. However, for the hottest parts of the day in midsummer, some afternoon light shade may be beneficial. During its blooming season, the iris needs as much sun as possible to build up resources to form next year’s flowers. When the plant is not in bloom, it can still benefit from some late-day shade. Mulching with organic matter such as chopped leaves or buckwheat hulls can also provide some protection from the hottest midday sun.

Tall Bearded Reblooming Iris (Iris 'St. Petersburg') should be pruned right after blooming, in late summer or early fall, to keep them healthy and promote growth. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased stems, as well as particularly long ones that could become unwieldy. Then cut any remaining stems down to about 1-half their original size. This type of pruning will cause some of the stems to die back, but that is normal and actually helps encourage new growth. With the proper pruning, you should see a healthy new crop of stems the following spring.