Good things come to those who wait and wait and wait

Barefoot gardener

Nine years ago this week, when we built our first raised bed in our concrete garden, my partner's Mam, Maureen, gave me a huge iris plant saying that we may have better luck than she did as it had never flowered. We planted and it did not flower, nor did it the next year.
The 3rd year I split it into about 5 plants as I heard that encouraged flowers, but no flowers for the next 4 years.
Last year I split it into bits again, planted some in my new bed we put in last year but still no flowers.
It has become a running joke with me and my partner that I only have Iris for the foliage. I had decided it was being dug out in autumn and on the compost heap.
Then tonight I come home from hospital to find this...
Bloody made up!! Might have to camp out and guard them in case some monster eats them.
I don't even know what colour they are lol

Fairygirl

Just a little tip B'footG - they need plenty of sun onto the rhizomes through summer, so you might be better clearing away a lot of the planting round them to let the sun in at them. That'll help them to build up for next year. The rhizomes should be just above soil level too. A bit of extra food in spring next year to encourage flowering and you'll be away.

Good luck with getting a flower 

Blue Onion

Are you sure it's an iris?  The foliage as it connects to the flower stalk is different from mine, as well as the direction of the flower head.  

Keep us posted.

Dovefromabove

It looks to me like a Bearded Iris (Iris germanica) aka Flag iris.

Perhaps you're thinking of Iris sibirica or reticulata Blue Onion 

Last edited: 19 May 2017 18:43:05

Blue Onion

Thanks Dove.. you are correct, as always, in all things plant related.  

Dovefromabove

Only sometimes Blue Onion 

Barefoot gardener

Well worth the eight year wait

Dovefromabove

Gorgeous!