The main difference between regular iris and bearded iris is a fuzzy strip of hairs on each lower petal. Look at the three petals that hang down on a bearded iris. You will see a raised ridge of soft hairs right down the center. That ridge is the beard. So what is a bearded iris? It is any iris that has those fuzzy hairs on its falls.
I got my first close look at a beard when I knelt beside a 'Beverly Sills' bloom in my garden. The hairs felt like a tiny fuzzy caterpillar resting on the petal. Each hair stood up on its own. The color shifted from coral at the tips to white at the base. Once you notice that detail up close, you can spot a bearded iris from across the yard. Other iris types have smooth falls with no fuzz at all.
The split goes deeper than just the beard. Bearded irises grow from thick, fleshy rhizomes that sit right at the soil surface. They want dry, well-drained soil and lots of sun. When you look at bearded vs Siberian iris, the needs flip. Siberian irises grow from thinner roots planted two inches deep. They like steady moisture in rich soil. Japanese irises take it further and thrive in boggy ground near ponds.
Penn State Extension says the genus Iris has around 280 species. For a quick iris types comparison, five groups show up most in garden centers. Bearded irises form the biggest group. Their classes range from miniature dwarfs at 8 inches to tall bearded types over 37 inches. Siberian, Japanese, Louisiana, and Dutch round out the main types you can buy at most nurseries.
Pick your iris type based on what your garden offers. A sunny bed with fast drainage is perfect for bearded irises. A low, moist border that stays damp suits Siberian irises best. Wet ground near a water feature calls for Japanese or Louisiana types. Bearded irises will rot in those damp spots, so match the plant to the site.
You don't have to choose just one type. I grow bearded irises on a raised slope and Siberians in the flat bed below. The bearded ones bloom first in mid-May. The Siberians open about two weeks later. That gives me a full month of iris color from one garden area. Mixing types this way covers more of the spring season and fills different spots in your yard based on their soil and moisture levels.
Read the full article: Bearded Iris Growing and Care Guide
