Meant to add that I'm open to suggestions if any of you know of good ones that have those qualities. By "good ones" I mean vigorous growers with strong stems and reliable bloomers.

If you're looking for orange, and you don't already have this cultivar, Savannah Sunset is a beautiful orange self and is a vigorous grower.

Has a great beard!

And makes a wonderful clump!!

Bonnie and Mary Ann, both of those orange ones look wonderful!

Mary Ann, that clump pic is great, such a nice contrast with the near black one behind.

Patchwork Puzzle!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are a few others I am taking a liking to:

Raining Cats and Dogs
Wizard of Odds
Dazzling
Spiced Lemon
Fall Fashion
Thundering Ovation
Laughing Clown
All my Dreams
Broken Heart
Chinook Arch
Carnival of Color
Tropical Passion
Secretary

You will like Chinook Arch ! Nice iris and a real good grower, at least here !

I see that Mary Ann has that Orange and Black theme going already!

The 'owyee' (spelling?) don't do well in the cold here.

Greg, Patchwork Puzzle is downright electric! That gold edge keeps making me think it looks like it's been squirted with mustard, LOL.

Oh man -- Patchwork Puzzle. I am not making a list. I am not making a list. I am not making a uh a uh.......................

Brad's photos strike again!

Yah, got me last year on that one. So I'm hoping to see it in bloom this spring here.

Brilliant Disguise is a nice one that looks kind of orange and black. I have it but hasn't bloomed yet.

Me loves Patchwork Puzzle. I am going to have to join Mary Ann's "I'm not looking" group!

Well, mary Ann, you could just star the page with the picture so you could find it later and then technically you haven't got a list!

One of the beds I might have some similar qualities that you're talking about Neal. I can't vouch for their garden-worthiness, as they are new this year, but perhaps others here can.

Ring Around Rosie
Montmartre
Rainbow High
Sordid Lives
Temporal Anomaly
Vapor
Engagement Ring
Bride's Halo
Expose

It's ok Mary Ann....you don't need to put it on a list. I'm sure one of these kind people will post photos of it in bloom next spring, and then you can do your 'impulse' thing and place an order!

Brilliant Disguise is stunning, but it's more of a burgundy black. The one that seems to be closer to Black (but I don't have it so I'm not sure) is Secret Service, ...although now that I look at it the standards are lighter. Maybe someone needs to make a cross and breed an orange and black iris!

Brilliant Disguise


Secret Service

Um Tom -- how does one "star a page"?

Look at bottom of post to left of the thumb. Tap/click the star and it will turn gold. Then you can go to your profile and get back to it later.

Neal, I've only had Montmartre for a year and I my weather lacks the heavy winds you get but it is doing very well and is gorgeous!

Montmartre



Another one that had been extremely vigorous here is Glo Ray Hallelujah, although it is a Border Bearded iris:

Glo Ray Hallelujah

That's a great feature Debra and Tom! Thanks for posting it! (...and thanks Mary Ann for inspiring the comment and following up with the question...don't want to leave anyone out)