Greater St. Louis Iris Society

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Greater St. Louis Iris Society

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The Greater St. Louis Iris Society is an affiliate of the American Iris Society, and we are based out of the beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden.

11/01/2026

10/30/2026

On the Eve of Halloween these demon imp iris hybridizers are working in the moonlight…we can wonder what mysterious and marvelous concoctions they will create

10/25/2026

Things are getting very spooky here in iris land…

10/21/2026

10/20/2026

Your bearded iris may need more than a quick tidy-up before winter. 🌿 Here are six jobs to check for healthier plants and a better spring display:

1. Check your division window. Crowded clumps often need dividing every 3–5 years. Allow at least 4–6 weeks before the first hard freeze; if that window has passed, plan for the next suitable local planting season.

2. Inspect any rhizomes you lift. Keep firm, healthy divisions and discard badly rotten or borer-damaged pieces. Clean tools between plants.

3. Check what the soil needs. A soil test can guide feeding. Avoid a heavy dose of nitrogen, and keep fertilizer off the rhizomes.

4. Check planting depth and drainage. Keep roots anchored below ground and rhizome tops at or near the surface. Very hot climates and sandy soils can need a little extra cover. Clear away debris that holds moisture against them.

5. Water new divisions thoroughly, then check the soil before watering again. They need moisture to establish, with excess water draining away.

6. Remove dead or badly diseased foliage and clear old iris debris from the bed. Leave healthy green leaves on established plants until they die back.

The short leaf fans pictured represent newly divided plants. First-spring flowering can vary while divisions settle in.

What color iris are you hoping to see next spring? 🌸

10/12/2026

10/07/2026

Countdown to Halloween: 'FBI Agent,' a spuria developed by Jim Hedgecock at Commanche Gardens in Gower, Missouri:

'F B I Agent' (Jim Hedgecock, R. 2024). Seedling unk-1005, SPU, 28" (71 cm), Midseason to late bloom. Standards dark purple-blue, ruffled; style arms not identified; falls dark maroon, dark yellow rays radiating over upper 2/3 of petal; beardless. Parentage unknown. Comanche Acres Iris Garden 2025.
https://wiki.irises.org/Spu/SpuFBIAgent

Spurias are tall (2 to 5 feet in height) and elegant, and have very attractive foliage. The shape of the bloom often suggests orchids and the colors range from white and yellow through blue, w**e and brown, often with bright yellow signals. This horticultural class is equivalent to the botanical Series Spuriae. The highest award is the Eric Nies Medal. Articles about Spurias; See also Hybridizing Spuria Irises by Dave Niswonger, and Transplanting Spurias.
https://wiki.irises.org/Spu/WebHome

And you don't have to divide them until after 15 years!

Interested in spuria? Join the Spuria Iris Society.
https://spuriairissociety.org/

Charmed gardening!

10/05/2026

INTERMEDIATE BEARDED IRIS. “ I’M WICKED”
A very pleasing colour combination. The falls have the appearance of a rich very dark purple velvet. STUNNING!

09/30/2026

If only this weren’t true!

Address

Meeting Place Most Months: Commerce Bank Educational Building, 4344 Shaw Avenue
St. Louis, MO
63110

Telephone

+13142852356

Website

http://www.stlouisirises.com/

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