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We have all been there. We have seen the millions and endless millions of online sites with their photos of all the iris. We have looked at them and tried to figure out which ones will be the best one for our garden, our soil, our area, and our color. We look at the names, breeders, and all the other information on those little tags and it gets overwhelming – but it does not have to.
Pajaritomt, in her interview, told me, “I had left my iris behind when I moved to my current neighborhood but one spring morning my neighbor's huge dark purplish blue iris started to bloom. I was stunned with its beauty. I didn't know the man so I started going through catalogs, both paper and on line, buying the ones that looked closest to the one in his yard. I got Victoria Falls, Breakers, Titian's Glory, and Blenheim Royal before I was wandering through a nursery and saw "the" iris. It was Dusky Challenger. I bought it immediately -- thank goodness. It was the only one they had. I have been enjoying it ever since. And I am enjoying all the other blue ones as well. Then I had to add some yellow for contrast -- and the rest is history.” I think that is a repeated story for so many of us. We may not be looking for the “one” but we are looking for the iris we grew up with, saw in the garden, grew at one time, or walk by every day. So what do you need to look for in your iris? How do you choose one to fill that spot in the garden? Here are a few ideas just to get you started!
Color – Most gardeners are not looking for run of the mill. Even if they are really into the historical iris, they are looking for the unique and the best colors. Color is everything to most gardeners. Anyone can have just another plant but to find that one WOW plant to fill that perfect spot takes work and planning. The only true way to get the right color is to buy your iris locally and in bloom. Second best is to buy them mail order after you have seen them in person. There are many local gardens that you can tour in most areas of the United States that have wonderful iris gardens. These are great places to see what grows well in your area and the real color of the blooms in your garden.
Shape – More and more gardeners are looking for the unique and the strange in the garden. They no longer want friends to look and know what the plant is at first sight – they want them to have to take that second look. Getting the right form and shape of an iris is critical if you want a real show stopper. The biggest issue with shapes and unique forms in the garden is that they are lost easily if there are too many unique shapes in the garden. These plants must be well placed and spaced out in the garden.
Family Tree – Avmoran told me “Now I buy (iris) on pedigree, potential for crosses and fertility.” If you are looking to breed iris in the future, you need to keep good records and know what the ancestors are for each and every iris you add to the garden. Knowing what the iris have in their past can help you make good choices for breeding in the future. Now breeding iris is still a hit or miss game, but you have better luck if you take the time to learn what you have and to find out what you need to start with.
Breeder – There are some in the iris world who follow one breeder. This can be a costly way to grow iris – new introductions can be pricey. If you have the money, or if you can wait for the new toys a little while, you can have a wonderful collection that will be united not only by simple color, or space, or form, but will be a single volume of work by one author. Many very serious collectors find this to be very rewarding.
Repeat Blooming – If you are pressed for space or if you want every plant to really carry its weight, these are the iris for you. They will bloom in spring and again in the fall. Now the tricky part is that what reblooms here might not rebloom for you, and visa versa. But if you have a little time to research the local iris growers in your area, you can find the iris that will rebloom and give you twice the punch for your buck.
No matter how you pick your iris, they will be a treasured friend sure to find space in your garden for a long time to come.
I want to thank Pajaritomt, Jackieshar, Avmoran, Irisloverdee, Happygarden, and Doss for answering my many research questions for this article. All images thanks to Lilypon and Ensata Gardens and are all Japanese Iris.
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About M Fitzgerald
I am a pentecostal preacher, gardener,husband, and a father. I love natives, daylilies, iris, and roses. I love teaching others, be they children or adults, about the garden and plants.
Posted by sycamoreshirl (from Cornville, AZ) on January 28, 2008 at 9:29 AM:
Thank you, Mitch for sharing that exquisite bloom. I planted a three tiered water garden with patches of Iris in strategic places from stock shared by a wonderful friend. When they bloomed, without any pre-planned effort on my part, they were all color co-ordinated in tones of fuscia, blue, pink, cream,deep purple, and lavendar which made a splendid display with the old fashioned Lilacs in the shade of an Arizona black walnut tree. Now everything I plant is with this color scheme in mind and I look for Iris that will be highlighted by the rest. Thank you for this introduction!
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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on January 28, 2008 at 10:59 AM:
Thank you so much - glad the articles are helpping!
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Subject: Wonderful article
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on January 23, 2008 at 6:21 AM:
Beautiful flowers and great information. Thanks, Mitch!
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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on January 23, 2008 at 8:26 AM:
Thank you - Mitch
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on January 23, 2008 at 9:04 AM:
Wonderful article and the photos are fabulous !
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on January 23, 2008 at 10:54 AM:
Another great fount of information. I can hardly wait till my new Iris Garden begins to bloom. Having received so many from Mitch himself, there is no doubt that it will be the envy of many.
Thank you again and again, friend.
Christi
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Posted by daylilydaddy (from morehead, KY) on January 23, 2008 at 12:36 PM:
Great article! I moved into a new home this spring and a DG member had lived here before(we have been friends since high school hort. class) He had gotten all the iris from his mothers home and had put them in a nursery bed and when he moved he said I could have them. I watched them bloom and cut many of them, but stupid me did not label even what color they were. I was so busy moving in and planting my plants from old garden I just forgot. When they were ready to transplant there ended up being over a hundred in the bed. I just mass planted them and will do better with labels this year. I love iris and I am still adding to the collection, but I can not find a source for the old fashion ones. I finally got a white one in a trade, but I am still looking for a purple and a yellow. Any of you iris people know of a source for these? I remember them so well in my granny's yard. I want that type again.
THANKS!
Geo
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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on January 23, 2008 at 1:11 PM:
Geo - Head over to the Iris forum - they can help you find just the right Iris.
Christi - That you will, I picked them for bright colors or broken colors - they will stop the show.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on January 23, 2008 at 3:19 PM:
Another beautiful article Mitch! Thank you!
Yokwe,
Shari
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Posted by Garden4ever (from Plymouth, WI) on January 23, 2008 at 4:55 PM:
Nice article! I also was in search of "The Iris" I saw in an iris bed in a yard I frequently pass. Still am! Have found so many iris in the process... I love them!
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Posted by soapwort243 (from South Milwaukee, WI) on January 23, 2008 at 6:14 PM:
Great article- I love irises. I hope there will be a Part 3. I'll be watching for it. :)
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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on January 23, 2008 at 6:15 PM:
There is :-) next Wen.
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Posted by soapwort243 (from South Milwaukee, WI) on January 23, 2008 at 6:17 PM:
Great !!!!!!
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on February 9, 2008 at 1:38 AM:
Mitch...Yep...you are right. Your grandmother grew some beautiful Iris. I still remember the wonderful almost spicy smell of one variety and the Grape Jam smell of another Iris. When we moved to Oklahoma, the neighbor lady didn't like all the Iris that we planted along the side of the house. Mina called them "Flags" because she said the Indians used to plant Iris on graves. She said it looked like we had a lot of graves along her driveway, in between our house and her driveway. But did we stop planting them??? Nope, a bird must fly.
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Posted by MitchF (from Oklahoma City, OK) on February 9, 2008 at 11:06 AM:
That she did - every color and shade I could dream of, made my child eyes think Iris must be the best flower in the world.
