Iris Stairway to Heaven Bearded Iris

American Dykes Medal 2000

Stairway to Heaven is a tall bearded iris that rises to a little over 3 feet tall and blooms in late spring to early summer. A profuse bloomer with 8 to 10 buds per stem, it sets cool, big, billowy blooms with perfectly white standards and lavender-blue falls. The flowers make gorgeous bouquets and great additions to floral displays. Left in the garden, they're highlighted against a beautiful backdrop of sword-shaped blue-green foliage and lure in pollinators, especially the butterflies we all love.

An Iris germanica cultivar, Stairway to Heaven is a rhizomatous semievergreen perennial with an upright, spreading habit, multiplying slowly to form large clumps over time. Bearded irises are great for adding color and structure to mixed beds, borders, and foundation plantings. They look their best when grouped, massed, or planted in sweeping drifts in naturalized areas.

With their naturally hardy nature, bearded irises grow easily in sunny to partially shady locations with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day and any good garden soil, as long as it's well-draining. But they prefer soils with a neutral to slightly acidic pH between 6.1 and 7.2. Provide consistent moisture, but don't allow the soil to remain soggy, which may cause rhizome rot. Bearded irises benefit from a yearly application of fertilizer, like Espoma® Flower-tone®, applied about 6 weeks before the expected bloom cycle. Once established, bearded irises are drought and heat tolerant. and they are also deer and rabbit resistant.

For more detailed information on caring for your bearded irises, be sure to check out our Iris Care Guide: How to Grow, Plant, and Maintain Iris Plants. Additionally, for advice on selecting the perfect irises for your garden, don't miss our blog on Tips for Choosing the Best Type of Iris Flowers for Your Garden. These resources will provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to ensure your irises thrive and beautify your outdoor space.