Frequently asked questions

We base our shipping rates on the actual USPS Priority Mail box costs, plus a small flat fee to cover the real work behind preparing live plants.

That includes:

• Careful digging and handling

• Packing materials and moisture protection

• Required inspections and compliance

• Shipping insurance

• Farm operations and fulfillment costs

We do not inflate shipping — our goal is to keep it fair, transparent, and sustainable so we can continue offering high-quality plants.

All iris orders are pre-orders and ship during our seasonal window:

👉 July through October

Orders are shipped weekly based on:

• Crop readiness

• Weather conditions

This ensures your plants arrive healthy and ready to thrive.

Non-plant items (jewelry, books, décor, etc.) are shipped with your plant order by default to help keep overall shipping costs as low as possible.

• These items will ship during our plant shipping season (July–October)

• Orders are fulfilled based on overall order readiness and timing

⏱️ Need items sooner?

If you would like your non-plant items shipped earlier:

👉 You may select a “Ship Now” option when you select your item (additional shipping charges apply)

• Orders placed during the week typically ship within the same week

• Weekend or holiday orders ship the next business week

💡 Please note

• Orders without the “Ship Now” selection will be held and shipped together

• This approach helps reduce shipping costs and packaging waste

Yes — we will do our best to combine orders whenever possible.

If multiple orders can be packed and shipped together:

• We will combine them during fulfillment

• Any excess shipping charges will be refunded at the time of shipping

👉 If you plan to place multiple orders, feel free to note it at checkout.

Yes. Amethyst Creek Farm is a licensed and inspected nursery in the State of Idaho and complies with all applicable agricultural regulations for shipping live plant material.

All irises are shipped bare root and are:

• Dug fresh for your order

• Cleaned and inspected

• Roots trimmed for health and handling

• Fans (leaves) trimmed for safe transport and easier replanting

This is standard horticultural practice and helps ensure strong performance after planting.

No — all orders are dug to ship.

We do not store plants for extended periods. This ensures:

• Maximum freshness

• Better viability

• Healthier plants on arrival

If an item becomes unavailable, you will receive the option selected at checkout:

• A comparable substitution, or

• A refund

We do our best to keep inventory accurate, but farming always has a few surprises.

Yes!

For every $100 spent, we include bonus irises with your order.

👉 No limits — larger orders receive more bonuses. We are unable to share what your bonuses will be this season. Bonuses will be at our discretion and will be based on what is available in the field. We know bonuses are fun and we want to ensure you have quality irises. We will not send babies that will take years to grow - unless for some reason we just throw those in because we are clearance an item out. They will not be counted as your bonus. If you receive a bonus you don't want, please share it with someone. We will not trade out or change bonuses. In some cases, if product permits, we may include special gifts as a thank you. This is not guaranteed and is a gift.

We understand that question — and we’ve been on the buying side too.

Our pricing reflects the true cost of growing, maintaining, and shipping high-quality iris cultivars, not mass-produced or bulk-grown plants.

At Amethyst Creek Farm:

• Our irises are field-grown and carefully maintained, not warehouse stock

• We cultivate and manage a collection of 3,600+ named cultivars

• Each order is dug fresh, cleaned, trimmed, and inspected before shipping

• We follow licensed nursery and agricultural compliance standards

• Orders are packed with care to ensure plants arrive healthy and ready to thrive

We also include bonus irises with every $100 spent, which adds meaningful value to each order.

👉 Our goal isn’t to be the cheapest — it’s to provide quality, accuracy, and a great growing experience when your plants arrive.

Many of our customers find that the health, size, and performance of our plants more than justify the price.

We take great care to ensure all irises are true to name when they leave our farm. However, irises are living plants, and there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Many irises do not bloom the first year after transplanting

• Bloom color and form can vary slightly based on weather, soil, and growing conditions

• It can take one full growing season (sometimes two) for a plant to fully establish and display its true characteristics

If, after giving the plant adequate time to establish and bloom, you believe it is incorrectly labeled, please reach out to us.

👉 We’re happy to review photos and work with you on a fair resolution, which may include a replacement or credit when appropriate.

We’re so sorry — we know that’s frustrating.

In most cases, iris loss after planting is related to planting conditions rather than plant quality. Iris rhizomes are very hardy, but they are also sensitive to excess moisture and planting depth.

The most common causes are:

• Planted too deep — rhizomes should sit at or just above soil level

• Overwatering — irises prefer well-drained soil and do not like to stay wet

• Poor drainage — heavy or compacted soil can lead to rot

• Recent transplant stress — especially during hot weather

🌿 A few quick tips for success:

• Plant with the top of the rhizome exposed to sunlight

• Water lightly after planting, then allow soil to dry between watering

• Ensure the area has good drainage and full sun

💬 Our policy

All plants are shipped healthy and viable at the time of shipment, but once planted, growing conditions are outside of our control.

Because of this, we’re unable to guarantee survival after planting.

👉 That said — we genuinely want you to succeed.

If you’re unsure what went wrong, feel free to reach out with photos. We’re happy to help troubleshoot and offer guidance so your next planting is a success 🌸

All of our irises are dug fresh to order and carefully prepared to ensure they arrive clean, healthy, and ready to plant.

Each rhizome goes through a multi-step process:

• Dug from the field at the time of fulfillment

• Soil removed and cleaned

• Roots trimmed for easier handling and planting

• Fans (leaves) trimmed to reduce stress during transit

To help protect plant health during shipping, we also treat all irises prior to packing.

👉 We are not an organic operation, and we do use treatments as part of our preparation process.

Each order receives a cleaning and treatment process that may include:

• A diluted bleach and water solution for sanitation

• A mild liquid soap wash

• A treatment using natural oils such as neem, orange, and peppermint

These steps help reduce the risk of:

• Pests

• Disease

• Contamination during shipping

💬 Our goal

Our priority is to send plants that arrive clean, healthy, and ready to establish quickly in your garden.

If you have specific sensitivities or questions about plant preparation, please feel free to reach out prior to ordering — we’re happy to help 🌸

We want you to be happy with every part of your order.

If you experience an issue with a non-plant item (such as jewelry, books, or home décor), please reach out to us within 7 days of delivery.

We’re happy to help with:

• Items that arrive damaged or defective

• Incorrect items sent

👉 Depending on the situation, we may offer a replacement, store credit, or refund.

⚠️ A few notes:

• Items must be unused and in original condition

• We may request photos to help assess the issue

• Shipping costs are non-refundable unless the error is ours

Our goal is to make it right whenever possible while keeping the process simple and fair for everyone 💜

Due to the nature of live plant material, we do not accept returns on plants.

Once plants leave our farm, we cannot guarantee how they have been handled, stored, or exposed to environmental conditions. For this reason, returned plants cannot be resold or safely reintroduced into inventory.

💬 What if there’s an issue?

If you receive plants that are damaged or not as expected upon arrival, please contact us within 48 hours of delivery.

We’re happy to review photos and work with you toward a fair resolution, which may include a replacement or store credit when appropriate.

🌿 Our commitment

All plants are:

• Dug fresh for your order

• Carefully cleaned, inspected, and prepared

• Shipped to arrive in healthy, viable condition

Our goal is always to provide high-quality plants and a positive experience — and we’re here to help if something doesn’t seem right 🌸

At this time, Amethyst Creek Farm is not open to the public and we do not offer on-site visits.

As a working farm, our focus is on maintaining the health of our plants and managing seasonal operations, which doesn’t allow for public access.

💬 Stay connected

We love sharing what’s happening on the farm and regularly post updates, photos, and availability online.

👉 The best way to experience the farm is through:

• Our website

• Email updates

• Social media

We truly appreciate your interest and support — it means a lot to us 🌸

Not always.

Many irises will not bloom the first year after transplanting as they focus on establishing roots. Most will bloom the following season once established. They will not bloom the same year (nearly ever). Bloom season in most parts of the world is spring.

Iris blooms can vary based on:

• Weather

• Soil conditions

• Sun exposure

It may take one full growing season (sometimes two) for your plant to display its true color and form. If your iris is VERY different - please reach out and we can help you validate if it's what you were expecting.

We ship healthy, established rhizomes, typically with at least one strong fan (several blades) (often depending on the variety and availability).

Sizes can vary — we prioritize plant health and viability over uniform sizing. Depending on iris class, how old the cultivar is (historic varieties are often smaller), and the actual cultivar itself, will have smaller or larger rhizomes in general depending on what it is. Size doesn't usually matter.

💳 Payment Options

We accept:

• Major credit and debit cards

• PayPal

• Affirm and Klarna (subject to approval)

Financing options allow you to split your purchase into smaller payments, making it easier to build your collection over time.

We don't charge additional fees for using credit cards or PayPal. Any additional interest fees incurred by Affirm or Klarna are between the buyer and those entities - we do not receive any of that funding. We do not accept cash, check, Zelle, or Venmo.