Bring dramatic spring color to your garden with Iris germanica 'Wine Festival' (Bearded Iris 'Wine Festival'). This tall bearded iris grows from thick, easy-to-handle rhizomes and sends up sturdy stems topped with large, ruffled, showy blooms. Mature flowering stems typically reach about 36-48 inches tall, making it a great choice for the middle to back of sunny borders and perennial beds.
Plant your iris where it will receive full sun for best flowering; it will also tolerate part shade, especially where summers run hot. Choose a site with excellent drainage, since rhizomes dislike sitting in soggy soil. Set rhizomes shallowly so the top is near the soil surface, spacing them to allow airflow and room for clumps to expand.
Once established, bearded irises are quite drought tolerant, though they appreciate occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells. After bloom, keep the foliage in place so it can recharge the rhizome for next season. Remove spent flower stalks and trim damaged leaves as needed to keep the planting tidy.
For long-term vigor and reliable flowering, divide crowded clumps every few years, usually in mid to late summer after blooming. Replant the healthiest rhizome sections promptly, keeping the tops exposed to sun and air, and you will be rewarded with strong growth and another season of bold, fragrant flowers.