Winter Care for Bamboo Iris (Iris confusa): Why Not to Cut Back Foliage

Q: I have a large, spreading clump of bamboo iris, Iris confusa. Can I remove leaves in winter?

Unlike most irises, it's better not to remove leaves in winter. The slender, flower-bearing stems emerge from old foliage; removing it might affect spring flowering.

If your clump looks ratty, simply scissor off brown leaf ends as noticed.

Note: this iris has pretty flowers but can be an aggressive invader. It has smothered hellebores, ferns, and Solomon's seal in my garden.