Bearded Iris 'Finishing School'

Finishing School is an early-blooming Tall Bearded iris with 36-inch flower stalks. Light-purple standards frame peach-pink falls edged in light violet, with stronger violet veining near the tangerine beards; its flowers have a slight sweet fragrance. The [American Iris Society cultivar entry](https://wiki.irises.org/TbFthruJ/TbFinishingSchool) records these selection details. ## Growing Notes Choose full sun for best flowering; an established planting may still flower with half-day shade, and very hot climates can benefit from some shade. Use well-drained garden soil; a slope or raised bed can improve drainage where soil is heavy. Plant rhizomes shallowly with their tops exposed. Schreiner’s gives a general 12–24-inch spacing for bearded irises; this is a planting interval, not a measured mature width for Finishing School. See the [bearded iris planting guide](https://www.schreinersgardens.com/pages/how-do-i-plant-bearded-iris). ## Maintenance Keep the bed clear of weeds and debris so rhizomes receive sun. After buds finish, cut spent flower stalks close to the base; leave healthy leaves through summer, remove brown or diseased leaves, and trim foliage to about 6 inches in fall. Divide before clumps become crowded, often every 3–5 years; timing varies by region, and Schreiner’s recommends dividing between July and September at least six weeks before the local first frost. See [iris bed care](https://www.schreinersgardens.com/pages/how-do-i-care-for-my-iris-beds) and the [division guide](https://www.schreinersgardens.com/pages/how-do-i-divide-and-transplant-bearded-iris).