Which variety of Iris are you considering?

tall bearded..i have had these in my old garden where they did well, but now i want to plant them in my courtyard in large containers..since my space is so limited, i'd like to buy some of the more expensive award winners, but not before i'm more confident about their needs..thanks for your prompt reply..would a different variety fare better?

Thanks - tall bearded will have fleshy rhizomes which tend to work their way to the top of the soil, so they are exposed. The problem you might have in an area that's shaded most of the summer is the fact that the rhizomes prefer to be 'baked', so to speak, in sun during summer - this ensures good flowering the following year. In reality, being exposed to sun when they're in flower is neither here nor there - the sun exposure is best later in the season. Japanese Irises (Iris ensata) varieties don't mind more shade, but even they prefer 6 hours a day if possible.

There's a thread here that might be of some help in making your choice, otherwise, try a couple of bearded ones to see how they do.

https://www.quora.com/What-irises-grow-and-bloom-well-in-partial-shade

thanks for such a detailed answer, Bamboo..i knew they don't like to be planted too deeply, but not the reason why..that's good to know..my containers are empty at the moment, and i might be able to change the layout in my courtyard so that they would catch full sun all day..i'll go to the web sight first, though..plants are so interesting, aren't they?

Bearded Iris need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun most days through the growing season--generally from a month before the blooming time until late summer--to bloom well. Siberian Irises will do better in shadier sites, though they won't like deep shade. It sounds like a good place to perennialize spring flowering bulbs, or to plant things like Columbine hybrids, perennial Foxgloves, Heucheras and Heucherellas, and probably many more that I have no experience with in my climate.

How abut Dutch irises? They don't seem to mind where you site them and they do come back every year. (though of course you don't get the spectacular varieties you get with the beardeds. But on the other hand you can plant something else among them for later in the season.

Thanks, Tugbrethil and Steragram..i've been studying my courtyard, asking google, reading my catalogues, and i realize that now i have to take into account two more factors..not only is my courtyard small, it's completely enclosed..tall hedge on one side, solid walls on the other 3 sides, and this makes it very, very hot. our weather has been getting hotter every year, to the point where i'm concerned about the plants literally baking if they are up against the wall, where i currently have the containers...if i move them to the hedge side they will get more air movement..i'm thinking alliums and sedums might do well, plus some perennials..you've both given me more choices to think about, and i appreciate that..just found some dutch irises that look pretty nice! (and i do love columbines)...