The iris has been a valuable source of perfume ingredients and herbal medicines for centuries, but today’s gardener treasures them for their reliable spring performance and hardy vigor in the landscape. The iris is also a beautiful bloom to incorporate into your cut flower arrangements. Here are nine iris types popular for North American gardens.

This also offers a good time to propagate new plants. The Siberian iris develops a woody center after a few years, creating bare spots at the center of the plant crown. These fibrous rhizomes should be lifted every three years or so, cut into pieces, and replanted. Other types of iris also benefit from periodic division. When you’ve chosen one of the more than 60,000 cultivars available, plant it in late summer or early fall in full sun. Plant the rhizomes so that you can see them above the soil because they thrive with good air circulation and sunshine. With good drainage and occasional dividing to prevent over-crowding, your irises can thrive for years.

Native Area: Southern Europe and the Mediterranean; naturalized in many other locationsUSDA Growing Zones: 3a–10bHeight: 2–3 feetSun Exposure: Full sun

Native Area: Southern Europe and Mediterranean; naturalized in many other locationsUSDA Growing Zones: 3a–10bHeight: 2–3 feetSun Exposure: Full sun; tolerates partial shade

Native Area: Eastern United StatesUSDA Growing Zones: 3a–9aHeight: 6–9 inchesSun Exposure: Partial shade; tolerates full sun

Native Area: North AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: Varies by speciesHeight: Varies by speciesSun Exposure: Varies by species; most prefer sun

Native Area: Nursery hybrids developed in Holland; parent species are native to Spain and MoroccoUSDA Growing Zones: 6–9Height: 18–24 inchesSun Exposure: Full sun

Native Area: Eastern Asia, KazakhstanUSDA Growing Zones: 4a–9aHeight: 2–4 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Unlike Japanese iris, the Siberian iris is fairly drought tolerant and may succumb to crown rot if the soil stays too moist. Most are blue, violet, or purple, and petals may be ruffled. Siberian irises are described as diploid or tetraploid. A diploid plant has two sets of chromosomes, but a tetraploid has four sets, resulting in stocky plants and large flowers with an excellent vase life.

Native Area: Nursery hybrids; parent species are native to northern AsiaUSDA Growing Zones: 3a–9aHeight: 3–4 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Native Area: Europe to western Siberia; Caucasus; northern AfricaUSDA Growing Zones: 5a–9aHeight: 3–5 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Native Area: Lower Midwest, Southern U.S.USDA Growing Zones: 4b–9a (varies by hybrid)Height: 12–60 inches (varies by hybrid)Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade