Laurel Valley Iris Farm

Laurel Valley Iris Farm Laurel Valley is a small urban farm specializing in bearded iris cultivars. We are nestled between the mountains and the coast of North Carolina.
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We provide online and local iris rhizome sales. I have been a lover of plants all my life, even at a very early age. I grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina in Madison County, near the Tennessee state line. My close relatives owned a nursery business within walking distance of my home growing up and it was always a treat to visit the greenhouses. As a youngster, I spent countless hour

s in the woods from early spring until late fall, gathering NC native plants and bringing them back home to cultivate. Being outdoors and in nature is where I have always felt connected. I first became interested in irises in early adulthood. Had anyone asked me then if I would have ever thought about opening a small iris growers business, I would have not had an answer. What initially began as hobby growing has grown into a passion of mine. I love to share my love and knowledge of irises with others. I have enjoyed selling locally and I am working towards developing a website and pursuing online sells as well! There is so much to look forward to with growing irises. During bloom season, everyday is a wonderful surprise. The color combinations and cultivars are endless and there is something special about seeing that first spring bloom finally open after a long, dark, winter!

I Almost got the yellow row completed this afternoon and ran out of steam! Oh well, it will get done when it gets done. ...
06/16/2026

I Almost got the yellow row completed this afternoon and ran out of steam! Oh well, it will get done when it gets done. I’ll head back up to the farm after work tomorrow and keep on truckin! Also, meet the Laurel Valley Mascot Deer who has managed to eat my entire vegetable garden down to the ground along with her friends. I think she was secretly laughing because she sure didn’t show any signs of fear while I was planting irises. I suppose we will learn to coexist.

06/15/2026

I got my order in today with Serenity Park Iris Gardens! I’m pretty stoked about the ones I chose for this season. Only missed out on one, but there is always next year!

I snapped a picture this afternoon up at the farm while I was taking a break planting irises. This Jacob Kline Monarda (...
06/14/2026

I snapped a picture this afternoon up at the farm while I was taking a break planting irises. This Jacob Kline Monarda (Bee Balm) was striking in the filtered sunlight coming through the trees. Mamaw used to call this plant Horse Mint and it is a native plant that grows in the mountains of Western North Carolina in damp, woodland, areas. It’s actually in the mint family as evidenced by its square stems. Now, if we just had an iris that was this vivid red!

I’m gonna need somebody to come wrangle in Mother Nature. She’s having a hot flash! 😥
06/12/2026

I’m gonna need somebody to come wrangle in Mother Nature. She’s having a hot flash! 😥

06/12/2026

Question: Should I continue to trim the roots on rhizomes that I ship out after they are washed or leave them as is? 🤔 I’m seeing both with the orders I have received. Is it impactful to trim up roots that will be replaced with new ones as growth continues?

I’m sitting here looking at this great pile of irises from Carolyn Wilson that I received today like somebody else is go...
06/11/2026

I’m sitting here looking at this great pile of irises from Carolyn Wilson that I received today like somebody else is going to make the labels for them…😂😂

Well, no such luck in planting the yellows today! It came a frog strangler sometime last night up at the farm, but I won...
06/11/2026

Well, no such luck in planting the yellows today! It came a frog strangler sometime last night up at the farm, but I won’t complain. The babies needed watering and they got it! There is always another day when it dries out a bit. I’m kinda digging how my rows look (even though they aren’t perfect)! Just wanted to share a little progress with you guys. You all keep me going strong!

Tomorrow is going to be an early start to try and beat the heat! Off to move more irises, this time the yellows and yell...
06/11/2026

Tomorrow is going to be an early start to try and beat the heat! Off to move more irises, this time the yellows and yellow blends. I dug today while it was overcast. This row will probably end up being a blend of color later on, but for now, they need to be in the ground doing their thing. Wish me luck!

A few learning opportunities from this season that may help other growers, shared in full transparency:1. Counting irise...
06/10/2026

A few learning opportunities from this season that may help other growers, shared in full transparency:

1. Counting irises in early spring can be challenging. When inventory is counted in March, a lot can happen before digging and shipping time, especially for smaller growers. Nature doesn't always follow the plan.

2. Fan counts don't always predict performance.
Irises with three or fewer fans sometimes bloom, which can affect availability estimates. On the other hand, some irises with five or more fans may neither bloom nor produce increases during the season.

3. What you think you have may not always be true to form. Even in a community built on trust between buyers and sellers, mistakes happen. I experienced this firsthand with a named cultivar I had purchased. After posting a photo, several knowledgeable members of our iris community helped me realize it wasn't what I believed it to be. I'm still learning, and I truly appreciated the insight from those with sharper eyes and greater experience.

4. Rain can be both a blessing and a curse.
It can help a garden thrive, but it can also create problems. Even tough cultivars can succumb to freezing temperatures, waterlogged soil, rot, or simply not perform as anticipated in a particular climate.

5. Bigger rhizomes don't always produce bigger results. Some of my smaller rhizomes exceeded expectations and produced multiple increases, while several large, healthy rhizomes remained stagnant despite receiving optimal care and growing conditions.

6. When in doubt, do what's right for both the buyer and your garden. Sometimes that means issuing a refund. Other times, it means offering a comparable substitute. I counted inventory three separate times throughout the season and verified bloom records, yet some varieties I have were diminished to a single rhizome (an unexpected challenge I created) One lesson I've learned is that being extra conservative with inventory isn't a bad thing. Stock plants are essential if we want to continue sharing these varieties in the future.

7. Next season will look different with all of the new found knowledge I have gained from this season. We will be developing some new strategies in 2027 and look forward to next season! Thank you all for listening and always being an amazing group of Iris enthusiasts!

Tomorrow is orange and peach row planting day! I spent today digging and cleaning up all of my irises in these two color...
06/09/2026

Tomorrow is orange and peach row planting day! I spent today digging and cleaning up all of my irises in these two color categories. Some are solids, some are bi-tones, and some just work so well together that they deserve to be neighbors in the field. This week off (I use that term lightly) is dedicated to moving more irises to the farm. Tomorow is supposed to be cooler, but today was a scorcher in central NC, along with high humidity. Stay hydrated folks and give yourselves some grace with frequent breaks while out there digging!

Address

Brent Street
Winston-Salem, NC
27103

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