Iris ‘Starring’ is a striking and popular bearded iris cultivar, celebrated for its unique beauty in garden settings. This guide provides information for successfully cultivating and maintaining this plant, ensuring a vibrant display.
What is Iris ‘Starring’?
Iris ‘Starring’ is a Tall Bearded Iris (TBI) cultivar, botanically known as Iris germanica ‘Starring’. It presents a dramatic visual contrast with its pure white, upright petals, called standards, which often feature a faint blush of lavender. Beneath these, the downward-curving petals, known as falls, are a deep, velvety purple-black, creating a striking bicolor effect.
This cultivar is further accented by smoldering burnt orange or tangerine beards, providing a warm focal point against the cool tones of the petals. The flowers emerge in mid to late spring, usually from late May to early June, depending on local climate conditions. Mature plants reach a height of 24 to 36 inches (approximately 60-90 cm), with a spread of 12-24 inches, making them a noticeable feature in garden beds.
Planting Iris ‘Starring’
Iris ‘Starring’ thrives in full sun, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily for robust growth and abundant flowering. While they can tolerate some afternoon shade in hot climates, consistent full sun yields the best results.
Well-draining soil is important for Iris ‘Starring’ rhizomes, which are susceptible to rot in wet conditions. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0 to 7.5) is suitable, though irises adapt to a range of soil types. Heavy clay soils benefit from amendments such as compost, humus, or coarse sand to improve drainage, or planting in raised beds can ensure proper water runoff.
Plant Iris ‘Starring’ rhizomes in late summer to early fall (July through September). This timing allows the rhizomes at least six weeks to establish a strong root system before the first hard frost arrives.
When planting, create a small mound of soil in the center of the planting hole and spread the roots downwards over it. Position the top of the rhizome at or just above the soil surface. In hot climates, a thin layer of soil (0.5-1 inch) can cover it. Planting too deeply can inhibit flowering and increase the risk of rhizome rot.
Space individual rhizomes 12 to 24 inches apart to provide adequate air circulation and allow for future growth. After planting, water the area thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots, but avoid mulching directly over the rhizomes.
Caring for Iris ‘Starring’
Care for established Iris ‘Starring’ involves watering and fertilization. While these bearded irises are drought-tolerant once mature, consistent deep watering is beneficial during prolonged dry periods, especially during summer.
Irises prefer low-nitrogen fertilizers. A balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio such as 5-10-10, 6-10-10, or 10-10-10 is suitable. Apply fertilizer lightly in early spring as new growth emerges, and again approximately one month after the spring blooming period concludes. Always apply fertilizer around the rhizome, rather than directly on it, to prevent burning.
Deadheading spent blooms helps maintain the plant’s appearance and redirects the plant’s energy towards strengthening the rhizome rather than producing seeds. After the flowering season is complete, cut the entire flower stalk back to its base. Avoid trimming the foliage until it naturally begins to yellow and die back in the fall, as the leaves are still collecting energy for the following year’s blooms.
Dividing overcrowded rhizomes maintains plant vigor and promotes continued blooming. Iris ‘Starring’ benefits from division every three to five years, or when flowering declines. The best time for this process is four to six weeks after the plant finishes blooming, in late summer to early fall.
Carefully lift the entire clump, then separate the healthy, newer rhizomes from the older, spent central sections. Each division should have at least one fan of leaves and a portion of healthy root material. Before replanting, trim the leaves of the divisions to about six inches in length to reduce moisture loss and stress on the plant. Replant divisions following initial planting guidelines, ensuring the rhizome’s top is exposed or just covered.
Maintaining a clean garden environment by removing fallen debris can help prevent common iris pests and diseases, such as iris borers or bacterial soft rot, which often thrive in damp, cluttered conditions. Iris ‘Starring’ is resistant to deer and rabbits.