I have a small yard and don't have room for many Irises. However, I am going to be adding to some flower beds in the backyard next year. Right now I have a variegated Iris. I'm not sure of the name, but I like that it looks good even when not in bloom.

Please recommend some Iris that also look good when not in bloom. I saw some that had purple in the leaves. Do you know the name of one like that? Also please recommend your favorite Siberian and Japanese Iris. I really like those.

Hay Clint, Why don't you brouse some of the treads on here, and see which ones strike your fancy. There's lots of pictures to look at, and I'd guess you'll see more that you'd like then you have room for. There are many iris that have some purple in the leaf, ususally at the base. Good luck!

Ok. I will look but I hope some people will answer. I have been looking at the threads. That's what inspired me to ask. I just want the ones people would choose if they didn't want thousands of different plants. LOL.

Hey Clint. Is your variegated iris bearded? If so JI 'Silverband' is also variegated. Pretty simple bloom though compared to most. I don't have enough to opine but the hunt is so much fun.

Yes. It has green and white leaves. The blooms are purple. I don't grow it for the blooms though. I like the foliage.

I found the name of the other one. It was 'Gerald Darby.' I mainly want plants that have interesting foliage and dark stems.

Don't have any myself, here are a few from a quick search

http://www.waysidegardens.com/...
http://www.monrovia.com/plant-...
http://lfrazer.com/iris/irispb...
http://www.bluejiris.com/Type-...
http://cubits.org/irisforum/pa... - reference page for purple-based foliage
http://www.iriscitygardens.com... (this one i did a 'foliage' find. you will have to page through the alphabet to find the color foliage varieties)

The plant shown in the Monrovia site is a pallida. You would think they would know better.

Gerald Darby is really nice in the spring with the leaves emerging dark purple, and the stems purple, but then the leaves turn green. Nice plant, though.

Blue J iris has a section on variegated leaf bearded iris, also.

This site has some nice pics of Gerald Darby.
http://hayefield.com/2011/01/1...

Thanks, All! I'm definitely getting Gerald Darby. The way those black stems look adds something to them too.

Is there an Iris with yellow tinted foliage? I saw the variegated yellow/green, but I mean a foliage color like Decentra 'Gold Heart'?

Most iris leaves & stems are green. The variegated pallida & Gerald Darby are the exception.

Lots of the new pseudatas have spring green foliage. Ensata Gardens has a line of them, or Draycott Gardens. Again, as the season progresses, the leaves turn darker.

http://www.draycott-gardens.co...

Polly - Thanks for that link. I have never seen an Iris like that before!