How to prune stinking iris

Late winter to early spring for foliage tidy; after seed pods open for pod removal. Cut back frost-damaged leaves to the base in late winter. Remove spent flower stalks after blooming. Leave developing seed pods in place — they split to reveal vivid orange seeds, which are highly ornamental.

Annually, light maintenance only. Stinking Iris is mostly evergreen and needs minimal pruning. Remove spent flower stems after blooming. In late winter or early spring, cut back any frost-damaged or tatty foliage to make way for fresh growth. The ornamental seed pods that follow flowers are a key feature — only remove them once they fully open and shed seed.

Cut back frost-damaged leaves to the base in late winter. Remove spent flower stalks after blooming. Leave developing seed pods in place — they split to reveal vivid orange seeds, which are highly ornamental.