This is a quick question for anyone who has both Sea Power and Merchant Marine. Can someone who has both tell me how they differ from one another. It's hard to tell anything from pictures; ones of the same iris vary so enormously in color. Thanks

The only comparison I can make is Sea Power didn't make it through its first year (maybe due to our alternating rains and drought), while Merchant Marine was as rugged as they come.

lovemyhouse said:The only comparison I can make is Sea Power didn't make it through its first year (maybe due to our alternating rains and drought), while Merchant Marine was as rugged as they come.

Thanks for answering, though I am looking for a color comparison. BTW Sea Power has done well for me, and I love it. I am thinking of buying Merchant Marine is why I'm asking. Good to know its a studly bloom tho

Merchant Marine was more vigorous than Sea Power in my garden - but I foolishly
planted 5 0r 6 blues in the same bed - hard to tell one from the other!

I did that with red and white 'self's - then some of the tags went missing...

I think Merchant Marine is one of the most beautiful of all blue Irises. FWIW.

I've had Seapower for about 5 or 6 years and it's never bloomed. Moved it last year, but hasn't bloomed this year either. It's growing ok, but no blooms. I planted Merchant Marine last year and it bloomed this year. Nice ruffly one, but I can't compare it either.

I only have Sea Power. It grows and blooms well here. Nice shade of blue and lots of ruffles. Maybe someone can post some Merchant Marine pics to compare.

Snork said:I only have Sea Power. It grows and blooms well here. Nice shade of blue and lots of ruffles. Maybe someone can post some Merchant Marine pics to compare.

That's the thing, my horse-loving friend --- I've looked at all the pictures and there seems to be as much difference between pics of one variety as there is between the two - meaning they look the same. But I figure there must be some difference, of some sort, or why would Keith Keppel release a new iris just like Sea Power? Of course, it could be the hardiness factor that motivated the release of Merchant Marine. It sounds like many folks have had trouble with Sea Power though its been magnificent for me.

You might like Open Sea, It's a nice one, late bloomer that I know is different from Merchant Marine.
Open Sea


Merchant Marine

By the way, that's pretty accurate for color on this one.

Wow Tom -- that's really purply for Merchant Marine. Here's mine:

I also happen to have Sea Power:




My Sea Power looks more like Tom's Merchant Marine in color!!

Have to say, Sea Power struggles here too. I'm about to give up on it, and it's in a decent spot!

Location (both geographic and garden), lighting, time of day, age of the bloom, type of camera used--so many things can affect how a flower looks in a photographed image. These images are from two different years, and different blooms from each year. They all look different to me. One thing they all have in common, though, is the actual blooms have more lavender in their color than was captured.
Don't know if this helps to compare it to the Sea Power you have...

Both Too ruffly for my taste.

irisarian said:Both Too ruffly for my taste.

I'll be happy to take those ruffles off your hands....

Merchant Marine.

My Sea Power has not bloomed yet. Been waiting 2 years.😕

Merchant Marine has especially tall wide thick foliage and to me it looks like the fall is slightly wider.

Sea Power blooms about every other year for me, while Merchant Marine is as reliable as they come. However, I think Sea Power is the prettier of the two, a little better depth of color. If I had to pick though, it would be Adriatic Waves, the best of both of them.

Hello Lyn,

I once sent an email to Barry Blyth and asked what the difference is between Adriatic Waves and Sea Power and got the following reply:
"The main difference between Sea Power and Adriatic Waves it that AW may be a bit larger flowered and in a clump, a stronger grower, though they both are good growers, Flower colour is very close."

If nobody in these forums has the two irises you wish to compare, maybe you can ask one of the nurseries. You may wish to consider Adriatic Waves. Barry Blyth listed it as one of his favourite top 10 irises in his 2012-2013 catalog.

Thank you everyone for the photos, info and suggestions.