Enchanting Spring-Flowering Perennials That'll Keep Blooming Once Your Irises Fade

There are many different types of irises (over 300 species) to plant in the garden. The most commonly grown are tall German (aka bearded) irises, with hundreds of cultivars. Though they are beautiful, sturdy growers, bearded irises have a fairly short bloom season. There are a number of colorful spring-blooming perennials that begin to bloom as irises fade, and planting them near your irises keeps your late spring garden looking fresh and lively.

The Iris bloom season starts with dwarf and reticulata irises in early spring and ends with Siberian irises, which last until mid-summer. Irises do need a fair amount of space, however, since they spread via fleshy rhizomes or, with Siberian irises, thick woody roots. Because of the amount of space they take up and the relatively short flowering season, some gardeners like to disperse irises throughout the garden, among other flowering perennials. 

The best types of May and June-blooming perennials to plant near irises are those that pop up quickly as temperatures warm and don't have overly large root systems to compete with iris rhizomes. This includes perennials with loosely-formed leaf clumps, including dianthus, coreopsis, yarrow, columbine, and geum. The lacy leaves are also a great contrast to the solid, flat leaves of iris foliage (which stays vibrant until autumn). You may also want tall bloomers to replace tall iris flowers once you cut them back, including lupines, foxgloves, and tall phlox.

Foxglove is a delightful late-spring bloomer with a cottage garden look. They bloom well in partial to full sun. Foxgloves are biennials, but some varieties will reseed themselves, allowing you to have some every year. They're generally easy to maintain, but growing foxgloves successfully requires very well-draining soil, as thick clay soils that hold onto moisture may cause them to get crown rot. Some very tall varieties of foxglove may need some staking to support them.

There are wild lupines, also known as Texas bluebonnets, in shades of violet-blue, and cultivated lupines, which come in many different colors and bi-colors, including yellow, pink, red, purple, and white. The bluebonnets reseed readily in warmer zones, while cultivated lupines are more cold hardy perennials. The tall flower spikes and attractive foliage lend dramatic color and texture to the late spring garden. Lupines have long tap roots and prefer well-drained, somewhat sandy, loose soil and full sun. Lupines are fairly easy to grow and care for but dislike being moved, so choose your planting location carefully.

Coreopsis (folk name: "tickseed") is a vigorous, pollinator-friendly perennial that spreads either by reseeding or by spreading small roots. Plant in partial to full sun in well-drained soil; once established, it is drought-tolerant. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage a second round of flowers through late summer. The threadleaf variety gives a feathery texture to the garden border, and the familiar bright yellow flowers now come in a vast range of colorful hybrid cultivars. Try 'Berry Chiffon' (white-tipped rose pink flowers), 'Jethro Tull' (golden yellow flute-shaped petals), 'Moonbeam' (creamy pale yellow, bright centers), or 'Red Satin' (dark red, yellow centers)

Astilbe is an easy-care perennial with lacy leaves and fluffy flower plumes in shades of white, pink, red, and purple. Once established, the plant forms a dense mass of roots, easily divided with a shovel or garden knife. Some varieties like full sun, but it's happiest in partial shade, in fertile, well-draining soil, so plant it in shadier locations near your irises for non-stop late spring color. Astilbe blooms from late May through August, depending on the cultivar. Try 'Maggie Daley' (lavender pink, blooms mid-summer), 'Red Sentinel' (medium to deep red, late spring), and 'Peach Blossom' (pale pink, early summer).