Irises are known for their striking beauty and diverse forms. ‘Iris Violet Turner’ is an enchanting variety, offering visual appeal and a delightful fragrance. This guide details how to plant and care for this reblooming iris, ensuring its successful growth.
Discovering Iris Violet Turner
‘Iris Violet Turner’ is a tall bearded iris cultivar, reaching approximately 30 inches in height. Its large blooms have a sweet fragrance. The flowers feature ruffled lavender-violet standards and deep wine-purple falls, with a contrasting apricot or tangerine beard. This reblooming variety typically flowers in late spring and again in early to mid-fall.
Planting Iris Violet Turner
For successful establishment, ‘Iris Violet Turner’ needs full sun, at least six hours daily. Well-drained soil is also necessary, as overly wet conditions can lead to issues. When planting, position the rhizome so its top surface is slightly exposed to the air, not buried deeply.
Prepare the planting area by forming a small soil mound for the rhizome. Spread the roots around this mound, then backfill with soil, ensuring the rhizome’s top remains visible. Space individual rhizomes approximately 12 to 24 inches apart for a mass display.
Ongoing Care for Iris Violet Turner
After planting, ‘Iris Violet Turner’ requires consistent care. While newly planted irises benefit from regular watering to keep the soil moist, established plants are more drought-tolerant and require less frequent irrigation. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root problems.
The plant prefers well-drained soil with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.5. Fertilize with a low-nitrogen formula (e.g., 5-10-10 or 6-10-10) in early spring as new growth emerges and again about a month after the spring bloom finishes. Apply fertilizer around the rhizome, not directly on it.
Deadhead spent flower stalks by cutting them back to one or two inches above the rhizome to prevent seed formation and redirect energy. Avoid applying mulch directly over the rhizomes, as they prefer exposure to the sun and air. In early fall, cut leaves back to six to eight inches from the ground to help prevent foliage diseases.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Gardeners may encounter a few common issues when growing ‘Iris Violet Turner’. A primary concern can be a lack of blooming, which often stems from overcrowding or an imbalance in nutrients. When iris clumps become too dense after several years, they produce fewer flowers, indicating a need for division. Applying fertilizers with too much nitrogen can also lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flower production.
Another challenge is bacterial soft rot, which is frequently linked to overwatering or poorly drained soil. Ensuring the soil drains well and watering only when the top two inches of soil have dried can help prevent this issue. Proper spacing during planting also promotes good air circulation, further reducing the risk of fungal or bacterial problems.
Propagating Iris Violet Turner
Propagating ‘Iris Violet Turner’ is typically achieved through rhizome division, which also rejuvenates older, less vigorous clumps. The best time for division is four to six weeks after the spring flowering period, during the summer months. Irises generally benefit from division every three to five years, or when flowering begins to decline due to overcrowding.
To divide, carefully dig up the entire clump and gently wash away excess soil from the rhizomes. Trim the leaves back to about one-third of their length to reduce moisture loss. Separate healthy, firm rhizomes, ensuring each division has at least one fan of leaves and some roots. Replant these divisions at the appropriate depth, allowing the top of the rhizome to remain exposed.