Iris Bulbs
Iris flower bulbs will be available to order from spring 2025 for delivery and planting in autumn 2025.
For spring planting, check out our wildflower bulbs ‘In The Green’ which are available to order now for planting from January to March.
Delightfully dainty flowers appearing early to mid-spring, Iris bulbs have always been a popular choice with gardeners. For maximum impact, they are best sown towards the edges of borders and are also suitable for pots and containers. The Reticulata Dwarf Iris, with its bold blue petals, are absolutely stunning planted next to early flowering Daffodils.
Like everything we supply here at Boston Seeds, we pride ourselves on supplying professional quality - and for flower bulbs, that means BIG! Our bigger bulbs produce bigger, better and bolder flowers. Choose from our exciting range of varieties - Harmony (Dwarf) Iris Bulbs, old favourites, garden classics as well as striking new lines for 2024.
Don't hesitate to get in touch to speak to one of our experts or request a catalogue to view our full range. Ordering regularly or looking for large volumes? Click here to apply for a trade account today - we review all applications within one working day.
The ultimate tool for planting quickly and easily your plants and bulbs. A quality solid ash handle securely fitted to a stainless steel blade, the traditional deisgn is ideal to assist in planting your plants and bulbs into beds, borders and grassland.
- Made of high quality polished stainless steel
- Ash handle - sourced from a sustainable source
- Soft leather strap - ideal to hang up
Making bulb planting easier, quicker and cleaner, our bulb planter is the ideal tool for helping you plant your spring-flowering bulbs.
- Made of high quality steel
- Automatic release on handle
- Duroplast coating - impact, elastic, abrasion, and corrosion - resistant
- Depth Scale
Royal blue petals with a golden yellow streak, this classic garden favourite sure s a welcome sight in early spring. This short flowering variety pops up amongst the snowdrops and is a much welcome splash of colour.
- Height (cm): 15cm
- Bulb Size (cm): 6/+cm
- Blooms: February/April
This item is currently unavailable
Specifically designed to help bulbs establish in pots and borders, without the risk of the bulbs rotting, providing an open and free-draining soil structure.
- Ideal for planting with Narcissi, Crocus, Hyacinths and other spring-flowering bulbs
- Universal bulb planting fibre
- 500gm bag - This pack is sufficient for 3 x 1-litre pots
This item is currently unavailable
Containing a vivid mixture of different coloured Iris varieties, this pack is ideal for adding early colour to your garden to produce the start of your spring-flowering display. A great value bundle, these mighty flowers look great planted alongside Snowdrops and Winter Aconites.
- Height (cm): 15cm
- Bulb Size (cm): 6/+cm
- Blooms: February/ April
This item is currently unavailable
Similar to the Harmony Iris, the Reticulata is a popular variety with its bright blooms appearing in early spring. Plant close to the edges of borders or in containers for maximum impact. A firm favourite that will look stunning popping up next to your Snowdrops.
- Height (cm): 15cm
- Bulb Size (cm): 5/+cm
- Blooms: February/ April
This item is currently unavailable
Pointed petals arising from a deep green stem, these creamy white flowers are flushed with soft lavender-blue stripes and deeper blue freckles. Appearing earlier than some other Iris varieties these will help to add longevity of flower starting off your spring borders with much-anticipated colour.
- Height (cm): 12cm
- Bulb Size (cm): 6/+cm
- Blooms: January/ March
This item is currently unavailable
Plum-coloured petals that are accentuated by the wonderful patterned inside. A great variety for adding colour to the start of the new year.
- Height (cm): 15cm
- Bulb Size (cm): 6/+cm
- Blooms: February/ March
This item is currently unavailable
An under-rated spring-flowering bulb, Iris appear early spring, sometimes even before the first snowdrops! Adding beautiful splashes of colour into your garden our Iris Surprise collection provides great value containing a minimum of 4 varieties selected by us.
This item is currently unavailable
With its pale blue flowers and distinctive sea-green markings, this Iris is suitable for containers or rock gardens. Always proving a popular choice, the Katherine Hodgkin usually sells out very quickly.
- Height (cm): 10cm
- Bulb Size (cm): 6/+cm
- Blooms: March
This item is currently unavailable
Our flowering bulb fertiliser has been specifically designed to help your spring-flowering bulbs flower to their full potential. Whether you are establishing in pots or containers, sprinkle a small amount into each hole prior to planting your bulbs. Also suitable for use in early spring to encourage your bulbs to flower well in the following season.
- Tailored to give your bulbs all the nutrients they need
- Can be mixed with compost or Bulb Fibre
- NPK - 12.11.18 + MgO
- Recommended coverage: 5kg per 200sqm. Apply at 25g/sqm
- Not suitable for use with Wildflower Bulbs
This item is currently unavailable
Our bulb planting essentials pack has been put together for the ease of ensuring quick planting and a great display. The bulb planter will help you plant the bulbs with ease whilst the fibre will ensure the bulbs do not rot when planted into pots or containers. Using the bulb fertiliser will ensure your bulbs have all the nutrients they need whilst establishing.
- 1 x Bulb Fibre
- 1 x Bulb Planter
- 1 x Bulb Fertiliser
This item is currently unavailable
Iris: How to grow them (and why!)
Irises are gorgeous, medium-to-tall flowers with a unique and beautiful shape, bearing three downwards-drooping sepals known as ‘falls’ and three upright petals known as ‘standards’. In addition to their shape, irises bear some of the brightest blooms one could ask for, making them perfect for those in need of some extra colour. Interested? Here’s a list of all the wonderful qualities of the iris, and all you’ll need to know to grow some of your own.
Fun Facts
Where to begin with the iris trivia…? Well, let’s start with the name: iris means ‘rainbow’ in Greek, and Iris refers to the Greek messenger of the gods and personification of rainbows. Furthermore, the ‘iris’ is the name for the coloured section of the eye- no wonder that it’s also the name of this coloured little flower!
The flower itself has its own significance: it’s a symbol of faith and hope- and in some cases, heraldry! The wild-growing Yellow-Flag Iris is believed to be the basis of the fleur-de-lis, originally a symbol of nobility used in France, now a commonly-seen symbol in designs and architecture everywhere.
How to Grow
When planted outside, irises are best planted in early autumn. While some species can tolerate shade, the best way to grow them is in full sunlight, buried about 15cm or 6 inches deep in well-drained soil. Irises are wonderful flowers to plant in large groups and dot among other plants- planting them under a tree canopy makes for a particularly stunning sight. Make sure they have 2-3 inches of space apart from each other.
While irises are very low-maintenance perennials, some may find that certain species, particularly Iris reticulata, lose their lustre over a few years, in which case they may need replacing. In addition, those with cats may wish to avoid these flowers.
Species & Styles
There are a variety of irises in different colours. If you want a bright, sunny combination of colours for the summertime, check out the ‘Dutch Symphony’, a combination of brilliant white and golden yellow petals that has a truly regal appearance. Meanwhile, the ‘Blue Pearl’ iris is by far the best example of the iris flower’s potential for a rich, vibrant colouration, blooming in a deep indigo blue accented by yellow spots on the inner petals- the ‘Rosario’ shares a similar pattern, but with a softer lilac colouration- it’s also one of the few iris species that blooms in spring rather than summer. And if you want something completely non-traditional, the Yellow-Flag Iris, as mentioned above, is a wetlands flower that’s relatively tall-growing- it can even be planted in shallow water!
Buy With Confidence
