I've noticed during fall cleanup a few varieties that are showing no above ground activity, and were downright hard to even see at all. Most noteworthy are a couple of orange varieties, that I had noted last year seemed to have gone missing. In spring this year, they woke up readily and bloomed beautifully. They are also varieties that seem extra prone to leaf spot, and get cut back in summer.

Do any of you observe varieties that seem to go very dormant during the growing season?

I've had them kind of bloom themselves out, and not have increases, and then a little one will show up and takes a couple years to bloom again.

I have some that disappear during the hot months only to start new fans in September. They look so funny because if there is still a leaf on one it is battered and discolored and here come some fresh green healthy leaves. I think the growing season in the fall helps with spring bloom.

I. aphylla drops its leaves & starts up again. Some with aphylla parents can do the same thing.

I. aphylla is very interesting, in some pics the stems look to be arising right from the soil- no visible rhizome at the surface.

These orange ones that hide are really well camouflaged with the surrounding soil, and very flat and level with the surface of the soil. It's been mild summer here, so I was surprised to see they hadn't grown.

aphylla has what is known as a basel branch

I've noticed that some of the blacks especially Ghost Train looks like it's giving up the "ghost" in the hot days of summer here in Denver. It just heaves over and starts looking yellow. One year I dug them up to make sure they weren't rotting. But the last couple of years I've just let them be and they vigorously began to grow again in the fall.

Good to know, Susan. I have been given a couple of dark/near black ones this year and now I know not to worry if that happens here. Thanks.

Interesting observation, Susan. I've also noticed some dark red heirlooms that behave that way.

I've been watching all the Irises closely all winter, and am curious what others are seeing now.

Those originally in question have green baby fans just showing, and appear healthy. I suppose this is normal, healthy growth for some varieties. Others have leaves standing up to 10", with only the tips browned by weeks of cold. And most somewhere in between. Looks like its going to be mild and sunny today, so I'll get some pics.

There are many of my TB's that lose their large fan leaves in the heat of summer, but then by late fall have put out lots of small fans. Doesn't mean I don't feel some panic seeing the leaves brown though!!

My dutch iris disappear completely in summer, come up again in November (just in time to get frozen every single year!), then really start growing in early spring.

Leslie, I'm bad about forgetting about them! When they disappear among other growth, I'm all focused on whats blooming and don't give them a second thought. Last summer I was looking at spring pics and realized I hadn't seen certain plants lately, and that's what inspired this thread. The contrast between some of them amazes me.

Not to mention plants that move about in the garden. I have some tuberoses that I love. They seem to come up just a foot away from where they were the year before. What is up with those tuberoses?!?

My memory is not what it once was and now if I move an iris I must make notes and put them in the garden notebook right away. Otherwise I will go out and look for the iris and wonder where it got to. Then it will bloom on the other side of the house and I have to laugh at my silly self.

I think some irises tend to go dormant while others seem to just rest. The dormant ones tops dry back within an inch or two of the ground while the resting ones just bend over in the snow. New leaves come on in the spring and I go out and cut the old ones off at that time.

Maybe having iris beds of just iris is a blessing and a curse. I see all the leaves that turn brown. If I had mixed plantings I might just fuss less.