I've had some Historics for many years, but have added many more over the past couple of years. Some, I obviously need to give more time (especially those that haven't bloomed yet!).. Some are good old standbys, and some really surprised me. I like my plants to not only have a flower that has merit, but also have good form and be garden worthy.

So here are a *few* standouts this year.

'Confetti' - very elegant form


'Cherie'- this is really very sweet


'Mme. Chereau'- flowers are miniscule compared to moderns, but very charming anyway.


'True Delight'- beautiful form. I can't take a picture of this that does it justice. Graceful, elegant.
'Father Rigney'- deeper and richer than this photo.


Yellow NOID- what can I say? It's already re-blooming.Very vigorous.


'Orloff'- makes me think of cinnamon sprinkled on something..


'Alcazar'- I could see this one in mass plantings. First year in the ground and seems vigorous.

...Arlyn

I only have one true historic, planted first before I was alive, and that is Quaker Lady. But it sure is a hardy one!

And I love Orloff!!!

I would have to say that my favorite historic iris is Loreley, not only because of it's unique patterns on the falls, but mostly because of the wonderful fragrance it has. Also a fast grower.
Loreley Goos & Koenemann 1909

Oh Tom -- that's just a charming little Iris.

Sherry -- your historics are lovely. I'm just beginning to get interested in these. Got a couple of them given to me today -- have no idea what they are. In the next year or two, when I have healthy blooms to examine, perhaps I'll learn their identities.

Leslie -- isn't it cool to know that a specific Iris -- descendent of one that was alive when you were born -- is still alive and blooming today? Amazing.

Leslie- Quaker Lady was probably my first historic.. It was a gift from one of my neighbors, so I've had it awhile, but not nearly as long as you!

Tom- Loreley had it's maiden bloom for me this year. We've had such a wonky weather year (very cold December, then pretty much summery weather in January and February).. Loreley bloomed flat and in the foliage. I'm sure next year will be better.

I've seen other pictures of it with spread out standards, but mine has never done that. I do fertilize it every spring, and maybe that helps. It's been a wierd year of weather for sure. We are in the 40's this morning, and have two days of lows in the 30's coming. Not looking forward to that, but I'm sure it will slow down the bloom for sure.

Loreley is that way! Tom is lucky (or skilled) enough to make it bloom with perfect blossoms, but, generally, they are miss-shaped.....Arlyn

Beautiful markings on Loreley. And interesting that it doesn't bloom "normally" for so many of you. Genetic defect coming out over the years? Selective mutation?

Well, this year anything can happen with the weather the way it is, but we'll see.
Mine is planted where it gets morning sun, and afternoon shade.

Problems like that with a flower are usually (not always) cold damage occurring when the bud was forming.

Last year I added a gruntload of historics, so I'm enjoying seeing a lot of first-year blooms right now. Some of my favorites so far:



Darius (Brown 1873)                                  Wyomissing (Farr 1909)                          Chalice (Sturtevant 1924)

Wyomissing is a diploid, so the individual blooms are small and not all that striking at a distance, but they're beautiful close-up and it makes a beautiful clump. As a rule, yellow irises aren't my favorites, but Chalice is such a bright, clear color that it has me hooked. The jaunty flaring form is great, too. Best of all, it blooms early, when most of my irises are in the blue/purple range.


King Midas (Mead 1928)                            Don Quixote (Mohr 1927)                     Peshawar, an arilbred (Schreiner 1937)

Besides thinking it's beautiful, I like King Midas because it's another early one that gives good contrast to the cool colors. Don Quixote is one of the many smoky, blendy irises that I seem to not be able to get enough of. In a few days I should also have blooms on Nueé d'Orage, Quaker Lady, Dolly Madison, Evolution, and President Pilkington. What is there to say about arilbreds? Peshawar is pretty short, but good golly Miss Molly.

How is your "Dr Moody" doing? Mine had it rough. They will not bloom but I did not lose any.

Hi Greg,

Similar story here. I haven't noticed any bloom stalks coming, but it's a little early to say whether it will totally skip this year or not. I didn't lose it (yet). I'm going loony fighting rot right now, but the bed where it's planted is in relatively good shape.

Beautiful irises!

I'm loving the non ruffled look of the oldies more and more. My favorites so far are: Confetti, Mme. Chereau, Orloff, Loreley, Don Quixote and Peshawar.

Love the arilbred. Since our summers are very hot and humid I can't grow them.
King Midas is lovely in color and form. I really need to add some more to my garden because I love the contrast between them and the TB's.

Well, I don't usually care all that much for white iris, and use them, mostly, to "set off" the colors in the others,.....but....This is my "favorite oldie", at least for today! I've grown this old thing for years, and it is one of those "bullet proof" things, that bloom ,no matter what! Makes a nice clump in just a short time, and, being an early bloomer, does a good job of brightening up the border, when interspaced with the spring bulbs. It has always been known, in my garden, as NOID #5, but, no more ! Lucy was kind enough to "guest " a start of it ,for comparison in her garden. Now this old gal has her name back! Snow Maiden (Chadwick 1935) will replace NOID#5 in my logbook !







Thanks Again, Lucy !....Arlyn

Hooray for your perseverance and for Lucy growing and comparing and hooray for Snow Maiden!