Iris

SEASONALITY
➜ Available Most of the Year
➜ Peak Spring (Mar–May)

DESIGN TYPE
➜ Accent Flower, Focal Flower, Line Flower

VASE LIFE
➜ Moderate

BLOOM SIZE
➜ 3–5in

STEM LENGTH
➜ 40–80cm

➜ Iris should be processed as soon as possible after arrival, though they can generally remain dry-packed in the cooler overnight if necessary

➜ Recut stems at a sharp angle before conditioning in fresh water, upright in moderately deep buckets, allowing 2–4 hours of hydration before designing

➜ Remove any larger blades of foliage from around the base of the stems before conditioning in buckets—iris blooms open fairly quickly and are incredibly delicate; foliage around stem bases can get crossed and tangled in buckets, making them prone to damage as stems are pulled out of buckets while designing

➜ Iris continues growing after harvest, so expect stems to stretch slightly and blooms to continue opening during conditioning

➜ If you're designing for a future event, keep stems refrigerated as long as possible to slow bloom development

➜ For a quicker opening, allow fully hydrated stems to rest at room temperature the day before your event

➜ Iris performs beautifully in fresh water arrangements and may also be used successfully in properly saturated floral foam

➜ Once flowers begin opening, avoid handling the petals whenever possible—they bruise and crease much more easily than the stems

➜ Keep iris away from ripening fruit and other sources of ethylene gas, which can shorten the life of the blooms

POSITIVES ➜
♡ Unique bloom structure
♡ Beautiful spring colors
♡ Excellent movement
♡ Highly recognizable flower

NEGATIVES ➜
✗ Blooms can be delicate
✗ Vase life is moderate
✗ Timing matters when designing with open blooms
✗ Has written poetry about its own feelings

Why are my iris flowers still closed?
➜ That's exactly how they're meant to arrive—iris is harvested in bud so the flowers open after shipping, protecting the delicate petals during transport, and giving you the longest possible display
➜ Depending on temperature, many blooms begin opening within a day or two of hydration

How do I know when an iris is ready to open?
➜ Look for a little color peeking through the tip of the bud—once the bud begins showing color, the flower is usually just a day or so away from opening

Can I make my iris open any faster?
➜ Yes—after the stems have fully hydrated, placing them in a warmer room will encourage the flowers to open more quickly

Can iris be used in floral foam?
➜ Absolutely—properly conditioned stems perform well in saturated floral foam for everyday arrangements and event work

What colors are available?
➜ Common colors include purple, blue, white, yellow, and specialty bicolors

☆ One of the most distinctive bloom shapes available
☆ Creates beautiful movement and elegance
☆ Excellent for spring designs
☆ Continues developing after arrival
☆ Brings personality to every arrangement

☆ Tulips
☆ Hyacinth
☆ Freesia
☆ Helleborus
☆ Delphinium
☆ Ranunculus
☆ Sweet Pea

☆ Iris is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, a fitting tribute to the flower's remarkable range of naturally occurring colors

☆ Unlike many cut flowers, iris continues developing after harvest, with both the stems and flower buds continue to grow in size as they hydrate

☆ Florists often purchase iris in tight bud because the flowers open quickly, making them one of the easiest blooms to time for weddings, events, and everyday arrangements