As I dig buckets of rotted rhizomes, I realize that I have lots of irises that are still doing well. In fact, most of these irises have done well for years so I am dividing and planting these everywhere, always hoping to add some new beauties to the cast of old faithfuls.
What can you count on over the years in your garden? I realize this will be different in various climates.
So far these have bloomed:
Lovesick Blues sdb
Low Ho Silver
Ritz sdb
Mini Purple Noid sdb
Florentina
I. Pallida
I. Variegata
Delirium
Concertina

A no ID I think is Arctic Fancy
Mariposa Skies
Quaker Lady
Total Recall

William A. Setchell - can't kill it! In fact, if left unchecked, it might just take over the world.

I have I. germanica, I. pallida arg. var., MDB Blue Beret, SDB Hocus Pocus, IB Langport Storm, Kent Pride, Chateau d'Auvers sur Oise, Guatemala, Eugenia King and of course Thornbird. No rot, no fuss, no pampering, good increases and blooms every year.

I have Eugenia King Caitlin. Send me a tree mail if you want some.

OK, here are two of my favorite thrivers. My conditions are heavy clay soil, no rain from April to October, erratic sprinklers, and no fertilizer, temperatures in the 80's to occasional heatwaves in the 90-100 degree range during the summer and fall. The following have bloomed every year:

Barbara My Love (blooms during the whole season)



Over Alaska



Check into some older Wister Medal winners, too. They do well in my yard
on their own:

Fancy Woman
Going My Way
Pond Lily

Other old toughies, as I call them, are:

Aaron's Dream
Ascii Art
Spring Fling
Black as Night
Immortality (well named. In my yard, it is indestructable.)

Totally indestructible in my garden (bloom every year):

Quaker Lady
Acoma
Thornbird
Durham Dream
Montmartre
Stolen Identity
Tanzanian Tangerine
SDB Inner Space
SDB Ninja Turtles

Awesome Alex is getting there too, along with Gypsy Romance and Gindelwald

I have a lot of old NoIDs that get no attention and no additional water than what Mother Nature provides. Even during our extreme heat and years of drought, these old toughies hung in there and bloomed. They are pretty bullet proof in my climate.

Some named cultivars that are pretty tough and seem bullet proof and/or are great growers:
Double Shot
Living On the Edge
Echo Location
Anxious
Total Recall
Honor Flight
Rainbow Shadows
Marching Band
Modern Drama
Thornbird (planted it in October, it bloomed and already has 8 increases)

I'm sure I could list more later.

I'd like to a list of irises that are hard to grow.

Those are in the Goners thread.....

Leslie

Thrivers in my garden are:
Mary Frances - prolific and great bloomer
Persian Berry
I Feel Lucky
Eagle Control
Luxury Ruffles
Star in the Night
Code of Honor
Burst of Joy
Glowing Smile
Royal Birth

Nice Leslie!

Some of my Thrivers

TBs
Face of an Angel
Genealogy
Marching Band
Stylized
White Hot

These are newer to me and didn't bloom last year after late planting, but are large clumps with lots of bloom in the second year
Mimosa
Party's Over
Wintry Sky

caitlinsgarden said:As I dig buckets of rotted rhizomes, I realize that I have lots of irises that are still doing well. In fact, most of these irises have done well for years so I am dividing and planting these everywhere, always hoping to add some new beauties to the cast of old faithfuls.
What can you count on over the years in your garden? I realize this will be different in various climates.
So far these have bloomed:
Lovesick Blues sdb
Low Ho Silver
Ritz sdb
Mini Purple Noid sdb
Florentina
I. Pallida
I. Variegata (correction: "Neglecta")
Delirium
Concertina

More Thrivers:
Concertina
Dauntless
Superstition
Habit
Flavascens
Celebration Song
Splashacata
Hotel Roma
Jurassic Park
Strozzapretti
Thornbird
Rhages

TALL WHITE HUSKY NOID!

I will have to say that I have a tall husky white NOID that comes up everywhere and always blooms. Has a slightly yellow beard and slightly PBF. I have shared it with tons of people and it just keeps giving back. Blooms early and prolifically.

Milestone, introduced in the 60's is indestructible. I've given it away, it's been through 4 years of drought with very little water, it increases like crazy- and it's even pretty. I always send some along with visitors.
My husband likes it or we wouldn't have 4 beds of it

Love those colors and the beard!

Would you like some, Celia? I can send you or anyone else lots, for postage.

Jan, thanks for the offer but I'll have to pass this year. Once I get things moved around(redoing), then, yes, I would love to have it.

caitlinsgarden said:More Thrivers:
Concertina
Dauntless
Superstition
Habit
Flavascens
Celebration Song
Splashacata
Hotel Roma
Jurassic Park
Strozzapretti
Thornbird
Rhages

TALL WHITE HUSKY NOID!

I still want that Strozzapretti mine didnt make it!!!

I have 86 in my collection. These are some of my top THRIVE-ers.

Queen's Circle:


Gypsy Romance:


Suspicion: Every year I think this one is going to knock itself out from blooming SO much. But it just continues year after year. Lots of blooms.


Happenstance:


Chinook Winds:


Thornbird: