Dwarf Winter Irises.

Can't give you a definitive answere, Paul, but I would say that we get a few weeks flowering from our dwarf bulbous irises. I will try to remember to time them this year, provided that the snow goes!

My experience of these is that they do have a short flowering period and don't produce that many flowers, and that, when left in, they gradually disappear altogether. Might be just me, though and we are on clay here.

I have just been pulled up over my first response - sorry JONATHAN :-((((
It might be your clay soil that is the problem, Bamboo. We find that the bulbs multiply up quite well and some have to be thinned out quite regularly.
There is one yellow one, Iris danfordiae, where the bulb breaks down into tiny bulblets every year which then take years to grow back to flowering size, if ever. I treat these as annuals and don't bother with the bulblets.

Hi Bulbaholic. No, I'm not Paul, I'm Jonathan instead. I wouldn't try growing Iris Reticulata in clay either. I only use John Innes in pots.

Funny that, our Iris reticulata flower for about a fortnight at most, either in pots or in the garden. However, the ones in pots are the only ones which regrow and flower in subsequent years. The ones in the garden just disappear. We are on a well drained rich silt/peaty soil by the way. Now I Katherine Hodkinson flowers for a bit longer and comes back every year in increasing numbers.

Now there's a question I should have asked: What is the longest flowering type of dwarf winter iris? I know of Katherine Hodkinson, but always seems quite expensive to buy.

Are you asking us all to take that on as a project, Jonathan? :-)

Well, I suppose there is 'anecdotal research' and there is 'controlled trials research'. Anecdotes would be good enough for me.

my reticulata [I have 3 or 4 different ones] last about 10 days but come back every year and 'double' up over about 3yrs. my kathleen hodkinson lasted a few days longer and I have yet to see how they do this year.

I have heard a theory that if you plant iris reticulata very deeply, they come back each year rather than split into small bulblets. Has anyone tried this?

I have read of deep planting them as being recommended for durability, but haven't done it.

Katherine Hodgetc bulbs are now about the same price as I. reticulata forms.

last year a gc was selling them as new to cultivation. I pointed out to them that it wasnt a new introduction and they were misleading customers. I was told rather impolietly that they meant new to them ! not quite the same as new to cultivation however. I dont go there anymore. didnt like their attitude.

It just goes to show, one Nursery many was selling them at almost the same price for one bulb as our very large Garden Centre was selling them for 10.
I am waiting for the one called Frank Elder to become as cheap and plentiful as K.H.
As to the depth of planting of I. reticulata, the ones in the garden were planted deeply as suggested articles in the A.G.S and the Scottish R.G.S. magazines, and still no re show. Howevere the ones in a shallower pot have flowered every year for a few years now. All they get is a bit of fresh compost on them each year.
Another Iris type which I find does not reflower is the Mourning Widiw Iris, Hermodactylus tuberosus.

oh i hope not owd. as i was given one that flowered last year. I was hoping it would be reliably perennial.

Hmmm - I planted some bulbs of hermodactylus tuberosus in 2005 and they've flowered each year since for me. They are planted in poor soil in full sun with overhead protection from a rosemary bush

oh that gives me some hope then. thanks andrewr.

Describes the situation of the ones in my garden to a tee. Friend about 20 miles away has never managed to get them to even reappear never mind flower.