Post a reply

Image
Feb 3, 2016 8:46 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Catalogs from all sorts of plant, seed, and bulb vendors are arriving daily and I love browsing them while its cold outside. Although I mostly order from specialty vendors, there are some that sell a wide variety of perennials I like to order from too. Even those I don't order from often have informative and pretty catalogs. I often see an assortment of tall bearded irises offered, typically classics and Dykes medal winners.

I assume the objective would be choosing vigorous growers in a good range of colors. I'm also thinking relatively modern varieties, so lets just say less than 30 years old (but are old enough to be reasonably priced compared to other perennials). What would your choices be?
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Last edited by gemini_sage Feb 3, 2016 8:47 AM Icon for preview
Avatar for crowrita1
Feb 3, 2016 9:30 AM CST
Name: Arlyn
Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)
Beekeeper Region: Illinois Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015
This is a "trick question", isn't it, Neal ! "Vigorous" in one area, may not be in another. And as to the "mix of colors", perhaps a "mix of patterns" (varigata , luminata, etc.) would be a better representation Shrug!
Image
Feb 3, 2016 10:01 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Totally up for interpretation. We only have our own experience as a reference, but it will be interesting to see how many of the same varieties show up over and over. Oooh, we can come up with an ATP best of the best list! This would be good research for an article Hurray!
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Image
Feb 3, 2016 10:15 AM CST
Name: Jan Wax
Mendocino County, N. CA (Zone 9a)
I'm a semi-retired studio potter.
Irises Hummingbirder Hellebores Organic Gardener Dog Lover Daylilies
Region: Ukraine Region: California Dahlias Garden Art Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
O.k. - I'll bite (fools rush in, and all that!)

I love:
Chinese Treasure ( an early Blyth) Love it for the color, mainly - bright beard
Coffee Shop (the subtle coloring - its reliability. And it's very early!)
Care to Dance - ( prolific and gorgeous)
That's all Folks ( size, size, size!)
Rio Rojo ( color and vigor)
Dragon King (vigor)
Emblematic (elegant)
Center Line ( gorgeous)
Millenium Falcon (my first love)
Strawberry Shake (she's got it all!!!)

(and more, more, more!)
Image
Feb 3, 2016 10:17 AM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Most of mine I haven't had for a long period of time so it is hard to say which will really qualify as vigorous. Now there are several dwarfs I can say are extremely vigorous in their growth, but the TB's take longer to produce lots of increases. The only exception I have to that is Las Vegas, which goes out of it's way to increase, and bloom and re-bloom. A favorite? Not really, but it sure has stamina, and I respect that.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
Image
Feb 3, 2016 10:24 AM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I will add two that are beautiful, and seem so far to be a good increasers and bloomers. I would recommend Owyhee Desert and Grateful Red because they are favorites, but they are slow growers, and Grateful Red isn't putting out much bloom. I am assuming you only want those that do very well.

Coal Seams


Jamaican Dream
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
Image
Feb 3, 2016 10:38 AM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Neal, my experience is limited as more than 3/4 of what I have will be blooming for the first time this year. However, of those with which I do have experience, there are four that have proven to be outstanding plants. Each of these has gorgeous color, and has shown itself to shrug off heat, cold, long-term drought, and flooding rains in clay soil.


By Jeeves -- STUNNING flower, happy increaser, had a four bud socket last year! (Keppel order)
Thumb of 2016-02-03/lovemyhouse/aa651c


Merchant Marine - unstoppable increaser!! and look at those ruffles. (Thank you, Brad.)



Orange Harvest - lovely fragrance, consistent fall bloomer (blooms do tatter a bit in rain)



Rio Rojo -- have it in two locations and the color in each differs just enough to almost seem like I have two different flowers; increases quickly (Thank you, Rita.)
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
Image
Feb 3, 2016 10:43 AM CST
Name: Jan Wax
Mendocino County, N. CA (Zone 9a)
I'm a semi-retired studio potter.
Irises Hummingbirder Hellebores Organic Gardener Dog Lover Daylilies
Region: Ukraine Region: California Dahlias Garden Art Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
Hoping my By Jeeves blooms this season! So lovely!
Image
Feb 3, 2016 11:03 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Excellent lists! I'm thinking of this kind of as an ATP popularity poll. Those we would recommend to a novice to surely get them addicted to irises!
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:08 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Well if you want a space age iris that grows and grows I suggest Purr Form Mints.



For a brown, I have to say my Downtown Brown is increasing at a good pace.

"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:18 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
For stamina and fast increases I would have to recommend Thornbird

Here is a photo of one with horns
Thumb of 2016-02-03/grannysgarden/385438

And this one has spoons
Thumb of 2016-02-03/grannysgarden/436347

These grow on the same plant.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:21 PM CST
(Zone 9b)
Region: California Garden Ideas: Level 1
My experience is also limited by being relatively new to growing named irises. Similar to Deb, I'm waiting to see several irises bloom for their first time here.

I'll put together a list later today.
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:26 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Another one I would recommend for its sheer beauty and hardiness is Prince Igor

Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:28 PM CST
(Zone 9b)
Region: California Garden Ideas: Level 1
I must get that one! (and some others that were mentioned)
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:29 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
I am trying very hard to be selective and keep it down to 12. lol
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:39 PM CST
Name: felisa
bensenville, il (chicagoland a (Zone 5a)
Bee Lover Birds Butterflies Cat Lover Hummingbirder Winter Sowing
This is a great idea. Since I only have few TB irises I would really like to see what people who grow many would recommend for vigorous growers.
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:48 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Another vigorous grower for me is Decadence. It also has a lot of substance to the blooms and therefore a lot of color.



This may not make the cut because when the blooms get heavily laden with rainwater they tend to lie down. If they are grown next to a fence where a small wire can hold them upright they are wonderful.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:52 PM CST
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Fun idea! For a novice I would include some happy rebloomers:

Rosalie Figge (very strongly reblooming, in France it flowers at least four times each year)

St Petersburg (again, a strong rebloomer, three times in France, one rebloom in England)


Non-rebloomers would include
Champagne Waltz (breathtaking when planted against a dark green background, winner of Florence Iris Competition in 1997)

Astana (to-die-for colour, very vigorous and a useful colour)


Plus something mid blue, because it's a colour that blends beautifully almost anywhere. A couple of years ago I bought a load of marked-down Victoria Falls, which sometimes reblooms. Stunning en masse!


Stairway to Heaven


Something pink - loads of choice...


Something dramatic:


And something subtle:




And for something a little more adventurous, how about

Chasing Rainbows


Not enough - we still need something orange, a yellow self, a lilac, a copper.... hmm.... Blinking
Avatar for crowrita1
Feb 3, 2016 12:56 PM CST
Name: Arlyn
Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)
Beekeeper Region: Illinois Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/fdacda
WABASH


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/ab9400
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN



STEPPING OUT


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/fe1ba6
PINNACLE


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/3d01ff
RIP CITY


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/48c819
INDIAN CHIEF


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/6584ba
DARKSIDE


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/f6c678
FEEDBACK


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/bb8182
ACCENT


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/b3c8a7
BANANA FRAPPE


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/27767c
BLUE SHIMMER


Thumb of 2016-02-03/crowrita1/a42e07
CLARENCE
Image
Feb 3, 2016 12:57 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
For very long lasting blooms I would recommend Dazzling Sarah. She is beautiful in sun or shade and the beards are bright and beautiful. She has a lot of lacy ruffles but not as much as Birthday Girl. She still keeps the iris look.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?

Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by RootedInDirt and is called "Plant Combo "

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.