Hello, I am getting into iris now after years of being a daylily collector. I learned the hard way to collect the best plant available, not just a pretty face. Could you help me with making good choices. Please list your top ten iris picks that are top performers, but beautiful in your garden.

Thank you, Teresa

I do not have as many irises as most people on this forum and most of them are fairly new, so I'll only post 5:


Not the most fancy iris around, but for vigor and overall toughness even in less than ideal situations, it is unbeatable. Plus, I like historics and this is about as historic as it gets!


Another (much younger) historic. This is a first year clump - need I say more??


Classic spageager, which grows very well for me and blooms every year. A personal favorite!


Darn cute, very early, grows like a weed and should do well in your zone. Other MDBs do well for me too.


Not the fastest grower, but a reliable, heavy bloomer with great substance and a deep, rich velvety colour, which has to be seen in 'person' to be fully appreciated. If I could grow only one iris this would be on my short list!

Generally, SDBs and IBs are more vigorous here than TBs.

Love that last one! Does iris have a bud count per cultivar? That ones seems to have a lot of stalks!

My two best performers are Mary Frances and Persian Berry. I guess by now they are also historics. \Some more modern ones that increase and bloom faithfully are Royal Birth, Daring Deception, I Feel Lucky, Glowing Smile, Miah Jane, and Luxury Ruffles (MidAmerica, I think that is the name).
You can look up the pictures on the database as I am on my Kindle Fire.

Yay, I am glad to see Daring Deception on that list

Oh this should be fun.

I will probably choose the ones that "catch my breath".
I'm on the Daring Deception train, but Gracious Curves looks very much like DD
and blooms longer than DD in my garden. GC is also somewhat taller. But I'd include both of them in any list.
So here's the first half of my list...for this year! So far.
1. Adoree

2. Yalobusha Desert (for the color!)

3. Gracious Curves

4. Daring Deception

5. Moroccan Magic
.

But I may have new favorites tomorrow. Not at peak bloom yet!

You want my top 10 favorite performers, not just my top 10 favorites?

janwax said:Oh this should be fun.
I will probably choose the ones that "catch my breath".

1. Adoree

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Adoree')
• Uploaded by Betja

Happy to see Adoree on your list! (I have it on order )

And for one to "catch my breath":



Rob, the way I read it it should be irises which perform well? At least that's what I posted!
If we're just posting favorites, I can easily post 10 more!

Little guys that perform well
number one would have to be Cat's Eye. 53 members have it.

Not only is it bright and a beautiful color it is a survivor.

And number 2 in my garden is SDB Voldy's Mink.

Allow lots of room for this little guy or be ready to thin it every year. Blooms in a pot or in the ground very well.

Number 3 has to be Jewel Baby. It is an older iris but never fails. Will tolerate shade and still bloom in the spring and fall. Very prolific.


I will post more later.

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but I would recommend these:
1) Dusky Challenger -- purple
2) Queen's Circle -- white with blue-purple ring on the falls
3) Mary Frances -- lavender
4) Lady Friend -- purple/red (hard to describe the color)
5) Golden Panther -- gold-rust
6) Everything Plus -- a white & purple type [I like this because it is short and stands up to storms]
7) Conjuration -- a purple & white with 'horned' beards

Actually all of the above have won the highest award that can be won by an iris (except for Lady Friend). Why it never won, I have no clue. It is VERY reliable and the color is super.

That picture of 'Lenten Prayer' is beautiful!

The top 10 would vary by the day for me I'm sure. Just depends on where my mind is on any particular day. I must have done this same activity at least a jillion times, but one more won't hurt I guess.
At the top of my list is Gambling man

This iris has never needed to be staked, it grows nicely, blooms regularly, and is quite pretty I think.

Rumor Has It

Not just another purple plicata, it also has strong stems, grows fast, blooms on are regular basis and makes a striking clump.

Arrivederci

Such a beautiful one, grows steady, blooms on a regular basis, and is a good parent.

Mayan Mysteries

Such a colorful one, and an excellent grower here. Fertile both ways, and strong stems.

Don't Stop Believing

Just a beautiful one. Very tall and needs staking at times, but worth the effort I think. Reliable bloomer and good growth.

Gitano

Such a beautiful one individually or in a clump, good grower, very fertile, and a reliable bloomer.

Sharp Dressed Man

This one is a fast grower, beautiful blooms and oh so fragrant.

Reckless Abandon

Gotta have this one, it's so nice! Good grower, good parent, and stands out in the garden.

Cold Fushion

You have to enlarge this one to see all the details. It grows well, and blooms every year. It is fertile.

Oh dear, I only have one more!
It has to be Magical

Just such a nicely formed iris, and pretty colors. Increases nicely, and is a good parent.

Not fair limiting it to 10

jmc

to the forums jmc.

These are my top ten performers. I don't know how well they perform in other countries and climates:
Anything Goes

Broken Pattern

Dark Passion

Hells Fire

Going My Way

Momentum

Neon Blue

Set To Music

Sirocco Mist

Stygian Night

I just posted 5 - and all had bloomed, but soon to come will be these
favorites.

6. Social Graces

7.Noble Gesture

8. Montevideo

9. Strawberry Shake

10. Valley of Dreams

[quote="IrisLilli"]I do not have as many irises as most people on this forum

It's only a matter of time!!! Especially if you hang around this crowd long enough!!

Love Sirocco Mist, but all the commercial listers are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Charlotte,
Sirocco Mist is tall and makes a beautiful clump. The flowers fade a bit after a couple of days.


I did a quick google and you are right - it is hard to find in the US. It looks like Country Delight Iris has it but they aren't open this year.
http://country-delight-iris.tr...
Maybe they will open next year.

to the iris forum JMC!

Darcy, my garden is so small, I could plant irises everywhere and still not have the numbers some of all y'all have!

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post on this thread. I am looking for a beautiful bloom that has the total package. Good plant habit, ect, not just a pretty face.

Sorry to not be posting more. Today I am up getting ready to drive 1 1/2 hrs to our club daylily sale. The closest iris club is 2 hrs away in Louisville but I may join anyway. Welcome jmc To me this is an online club lol. I learn a lot here.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your garden! Spring is the most wonderful time of the year!

Teresa