There's no guarantee but some people have forgotten rhizomes over the winter and had them sprout when spring planted. Use paper bags in a cool place. You may not have bloom for 2-3 years.

Are these the same or different colors? If there is an enlarged clump, attached to one another, so I know they are all the same, I'd squelch my inclinations and only pot 2, paper bagging the remainder of that clump.

You can always put "free iris for the digging" on Craig's List for those you don't want. Big job. Good luck.

Large healthy rhizomes should be fine for a few months, rot will be your main concern. As iris gal said, store in a cool place. If you bag them don't put too many to a bag. I would actually try to spread them out rather than put them in a bag, if you have a large bag the ones in the middle might rot.

Iris_gal it is turning out to be a huge job. I have at least 10 different colors, maybe more. That is a great idea to pot some and store the rest.I gotten several huge clumps with brand new sprouts that are different sizes. I think I'm coming to the conclusion that I can't save them all as hard as that is for me. I want to honor the person who I inherited them from but have to be realistic. The hardest thing has been trying to figure out what bloomed last year and what didn't. Thanks for the suggestions.

Even if you don't keep them all, it won't take long for them to multiply again and you will have lots more. I planted tiny pieces of iris in a spot last fall and they are crowded already. I don't know where you are in zone 7 but I'm in 7b in upstate SC. Iris grow like weeds here.

Hi Southerngardening24 I'm in NC Charlotte/Matthews. Where are you? I transplanted some about 5 yrs ago and they have spread and bloomed like crazy. I love it.

I live near Seneca SC. Charlotte is about a 2 hour drive from here. :-)

I'm still working on moving my Iris. My question is why do mine look so small compared to hers. (I attached a picture of hers, will also attach a picture of mine) Hers came from some I had to transplant several years ago.

Here is what my bed looks like.

Hers have older leaves and looks like it's a nice clumper.

Yours have healthy young growth on the new rhizomes.

'Beverly Sills' is being a nice clumper here in heavy soil. but several others like to travel. A lot!

Check a couple rhizomes for signs of iris borers having chewed on them. Northwoodswis

Northwoodswis4 I am new to this, so I goggled iris borers and I do see some evidence in some that I have dug up and discarded. I haven't kept any that have evidence of them. I do have quite a few more to move, but will keep a eye out for that. Thanks