Well, it looks like I get to play the NOID game. This iris opened today amid a clump of Chasing Rainbows. I never ordered this, and I've never seen it before, and assume that it was a mistake.

Due to the borer mass dig, it is no longer where it was originally planted. Because I have a number of iris that I planted many years ago that are only blooming for the first time since they've been relocated to a sunnier spot, I have no way to determine who I ordered it from. Furthermore, some of the sellers I ordered from in the past are no longer in business or they were on ebay.

I've searched the database and while I've found things similar, I haven't found an exact match from the pictures.

It is IMO at least 20 years old, I guess you call this tailored? The standards are an eye popping gold with a beard of the same color. It's a big flower the size of my hand, and I guess I'd call the falls flared.

No purple based foliage, standards are solid color (no wash). Falls are what might be described as brick red, mahogany, or oxblood with a random darker wash, some small striations of yellow by the beard.

Not sure, the only one I have that looks like yours is


It is an older cultivar introduced by Schreiner in 1988.

Supreme Sulton is us ually very tall, perhaps the height can be an ID help.

This was one that I though looked close, but Supreme Sultan looks more ruffled and maybe more burgundy in the falls. It does feel like that sort of vintage. As far as the height Lucy mentioned, I can't rely on that much as sometimes I get shorter heights, especially on newly planted things. This thing has not been healthy in the past, because it never bloomed where it was previously located.

It is a good candidate though, because I remember seeing it being offered at sites I bought from often in past years like Schreiners - I think it was popular.

Another problem with the NOID game is that the same iris can vary in color. I now have Smoke and Thunder Growing in 2 places, one expected, another unexpected. They look slightly different in the two locations. Same for Haunted Heart, expected and unexpected. The beds have different sun and different soil.

IrisLilli said: Not sure, the only one I have that looks like yours is

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Supreme Sultan')
• Uploaded by pasla3

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Supreme Sultan')
• Uploaded by janwax

It is an older cultivar introduced by Schreiner in 1988.

Another candidate:

Antique Treasure definitely has more burgundy/purple in the falls and more ruffles. Supreme Sultan is the closest by far, and I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Another reason is that in the early years of my iris adventure, I used to buy mostly from Schreiner's as they were the first site I discovered on the web. And they send the wrong orders - two years in a row I ordered Starship Enterprise and got other things. I finally found Starship elsewhere, at Ross Road Iris (now closed). That was the correct plant. It bloomed one year and was killed by the borers the next

IrisLilli said: Another candidate:

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Antique Treasure')
• Uploaded by Ivan_N_Tx

When I first saw it I thought maybe it was an older one called Dragon's Lair, I was hoping as I had it and lost it and can't find it any more. But when I look at your picture yours has a small yellow dart on the end of the beard, and DL doesn't. Supreme Sultan is pretty close though, I'd get a test plant if I were you and see.

Ah yes, The NOID game

Hate to say this, but although close, I don't think that is Supreme Sultan. The slight differences that I see are the beard color and the mid-rib color. The beards on my Supreme Sultan are more orange and more scraggly - not that full pretty yellow orange

I do have another suggestion that might be close. Gypsy Caravan. Same time period and I think also a Schreiners introduction. Here are pics of each from my garden.
Supreme Sultan




Gypsy Caravan





I have both if you would like to test grow them for comparison.

Pam, thanks for the kind offer. I really appreciate it. However, I didn't even intend to order this iris. It was supposed to be "Chasing Rainbows."

First and last time buying from CT Iris. Out of an order of 4 iris, they sent two wrong ones - actually, since Drinks at Sunset didn't bloom, maybe that's wrong too and it was the whole reason I even went to their site. It's one of my faves and I lost it in a massive borer infestation. It was not easy to find. I've since realized that I could have wept and wailed and begged on here and one of you lovely people would have sent it to me :)

I'm going to give it to a friend who I think will like it. She doesn't care about the name of the iris. My garden space is limited and my wish list long. Hope your horses are well.

Lyn

Snork said: Ah yes, The NOID game

Hate to say this, but although close, I don't think that is Supreme Sultan. The slight differences that I see are the beard color and the mid-rib color. The beards on my Supreme Sultan are more orange and more scraggly - not that full pretty yellow orange

I do have another suggestion that might be close. Gypsy Caravan. Same time period and I think also a Schreiners introduction. Here are pics of each from my garden.
Supreme Sultan




Gypsy Caravan





I have both if you would like to test grow them for comparison.