Don't divide bearded Iris when temperatures are likely to freeze. They won't anchor themselves, (due to frost heave). In any case the roots don't grow when the temperature is near to freezing. you can get round this with a frost free greenhouse. English Cottage is a very good garden plant which flowers a lot, but the flowers have poor substance, (-they are easily damaged by wind and rain). Nor do they root in very arid Summer conditions but you can get round this by mulching with gravel. Peter UK On 10 November 2014 19:09, Brian Whyer <brian.whyer@btinternet.com> wrote: > >The rule is to divide and replant after flowering. > > It is because of the repeat flowering I asked. The "normal" single > flowering I divide after flowering, in the summer, as in commerce, but > there are 2 or more options with a repeat flowerer. After the first, after > the second, after both if your greedy. > > ~27 growth points around the 5 main previous growing points. This is in > very poor wet sticky clay rich limey soil. I can obviously divide this into > 5 good clumps, and maybe further, but when? I have unheated and frost free > glasshouse in needed. > Incidentally it is Iris "English Cottage". >