Expert: C.L. Fornari - 9/20/2009

Question
We bought a home a few years ago, and I've been trying to identify the few plants in the yard. At one corner of the house, there is an area I believe contains Siberian Irises. The leaves come up in March/April, are flat and symmetrical, about six all total, a nice spring green, not overly bright, but not dull. One stem, flattened, shoots up from the center, with a tightly wrapped bud, about six to eight folds overlapping. If a late frost doesn't hit and kill the blooms, they open to a purple iris, lasting about ten days. After all this, whether or not the blooms open, the entire plant dies back. Is this a Siberian Iris, and if so, can I move it?

Answer
Dana,
I think what you are describing is Neomarica gracilis, commonly called walking iris. Check this description: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neomarica   You don't mention where you live, but I'd guess that you live right on the edge of the plant's hardiness zone, and so it dies back after frost.  Where I live, in the Northeast, we have to grow this as a houseplant.

Yes, you can move the plant, either now or in the spring. If you live in a place where the soil stays warm through October, go ahead and move it now. If it's already cool at night where you are, I"d wait and move it in the spring.

I hope this helps,
C.L.