Bearded Iris 'Fortunate Son'

‘Fortunate Son’ is a tall-bearded iris with wine-red flowers and blue beards. The American Iris Society lists the cultivar at 37 inches (94 cm), with early-to-midseason bloom; its exact description appears on the [AIS cultivar page](https://wiki.irises.org/TbFthruJ/TbFortunateSon). ## Placement Give it full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Bearded iris tolerates some shade but can struggle in heavy clay. Place the rhizome at soil level or cover it lightly, and leave it unmulched. Its tall flower stalks suit the middle of a perennial border or a cutting garden. More species-level siting advice is available from [North Carolina State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/iris-x-germanica/). ## Maintenance Keep newly planted rhizomes moist while roots establish. Afterward, water deeply and infrequently, only as needed in dry conditions; frequent shallow watering is less effective, and overwatering can cause problems. Divide in mid- to late summer after flowering. See the [American Iris Society care guide](https://www.irises.org/gardeners/care-classification/care/) and [Schreiner’s bearded-iris watering guide](https://www.schreinersgardens.com/pages/watering-your-bearded-iris).