I thought we could use this thread to share lists of older irises we are considering. I hate the feeling of seeing that someone bought an iris that I could have shared with them, and I don’t want to waste money on irises that I might be able to get in trade or that did poorly for others.

The list below is long, a compilation of interesting irises from several sites.
If you think you might have any of these available in the coming year could you let me know? Also, if you have any experience growing any of these, that information would be helpful too.

For example did/do they increase and bloom reliably? Are they hardy? Did they rot or bloom out? Which, if any, are your favorites? With any luck your input will help me pare down and prioritize my list.

Just highlight anything that catches your attention…and then, if you want, add a list of your own to see what information others can share with you!

TBs

Fashion Designer
Telepathy
Wild Wings
Arms Wide Open
Baltic Star
Cowabunga
Cupid’s Arrow
Paul Black
Rogue
Starring
Trillion
Uncle Charlie
Undercurrent
Dragonheart
Flamenco Whirl
Foreigner
House Afire
Master Plan
Modern Woman
Rustler
Time Escape
Blaze of Glory
Cajun Spices
Can’t Elope
Golden Alien
Mystic Dragon
Vapor
Sweetly Sung
Mythology
Kid’s Clothes
Purple Ritz
Wish Upon A Star
Smith Named Keith
Toyoko Blues
Wild Frontier
Pop Star
Diabolique
Sky And Sun
Codicil
Blue Kentucky Girl
Cajun Cooking
Imagery
I Feel Lucky
Midnight Thunder
Nora Eileen
Tunnel Vision
Los Coyotes
Highland Lord
Hollywood Nights
Gladiatrix
Cupid's Wish

Medians (I've only listed a few of these...feel free to recommend any other favorites!)

Celsius
Devil’s Night
On Fire
Shakespear’s Sonnet
Wish Upon A Star
Pussycat Pink
Yahtzee

I lost Cajun Spices this summer. It just did not thrive in a bed where others are going great. Mystic Dragon is pouting. It has been in its spot two years. If it does not do anything this year I am going to move it and then....... Yahtzee is one I want to buy this year (along with about another gazillion) and I would like to know how it does for everyone. Sometimes when an iris is scarce it is an indication that it does not do well. Yahtzee may be one of those. Anyone?

Good luck paring down the list. My budget does that for me. smiles

Whew! Some commas would be useful on that TB list! Just got several of those in the last year but can say that Nora Eileen is a great grower. Greg can fill you in on many of their habits since I got several from him.

Oops, they were originally in columns, I guess the ATP program doesn't like that. I'll go back and edit it. Thanks for the heads up!

Trillion pouted here for a couple years, but then started to grow better. I don't know if it was just here or if that's what it does other places. Paul Black is a good grower, Undercurrent, Sky and sun, and Kid's Clothes are a good ones too. Many of the others I haven't had as long to comment on.

I have several of the TB's on your list. Most of them have only been in the garden for one year, so I can't really comment on growth factors yet. I have had Codicil for many years. It was slow to get established, but has done well, with steady increase ever since. Trillion is another that has been in for a few years. As Tom mentioned, it also was slow to get started, but has done well recently.

I won't have Paul Black to share until 2016, but I put your name there in case.

Can share these in 2015 and your name is beside each:
Purple Ritz
Trillion
Wish Upon a Star

We grow Pussycat Pink. I will see if any is available after putting pods on it. Early bloomer here.

Bonnie, Tom , and Pam...thanks so much for the input. I've made notes on my list!

Debra & Lucy - Thanks! That would be great if it works out. At least for now I will hold off on those ones!

I'm hoping to add some of the older irises to my collection...but there are so many it's hard to know which ones to choose...so I really appreciate the time you have taken to share your experience with these!

I'm also hoping that this thread might be a place where people can list irises they would like to have, to see if any are available before they go spend money buying them...so that their money can be used to buy new and different irises instead of buying ones that someone else is happy to share. I hope that makes sense to you!

I think I have plenty of Pussycat Pink to share- I'm such an airhead, I ordered and planted one last year and realized I already have a clump of them! I'll confirm that in spring when they bloom and let you know

Oh good. I like anything pink.

Most of my rhizomes were planted last year. Of the established ones, I have plenty of my old Fabian and some Honorabile, enough Blue Moon Siberians. Then, 4 noID's in great numbers off of Craigslist and from the neighbor. Those are probably identifiable come Spring. They are purple, yellow, purple/yellow and blue/yellow according to the folks I got them from. So, if you are looking for those colors, I have plenty in an ID to be announced.

It would take me quite awhile to go through the ones that I have. I will say that I have had Cupid's Arrow and Cupid's Wish for some time. They are both beautiful Irises, and decent growers. Poor Cupid's Arrow is in one of the sections of Iris Lane that took the big hit last year, so I would not have any to share. Cupid's Wish is a gorgeous Iris:



I've had it several years, and don't think that I've ever thinned it. It's possible that there would be rhizomes to share this year -- remind me during bloom season.

Starring can be tempermental. I've had it for a couple of years -- and I have a very poor, crowded group of it in a bad section of Iris Lane. I'll probably get that section repaired and amended this year, and then I would be thinning Starring -- in which case I would have rhizomes to share. But they would be small (likely) -- you would maybe do better getting it from someone else.

Paul Black has been a vigorous grower here. You would love this Iris. I thinned and moved mine this past year -- don't know if it will be thinnable again this year, or not -- again, remind me to check it this spring.

Gonna do this in two posts so I don't lose anything.

Vapor is an Iris that I got as a bonus several years ago. I didn't like it at first -- but it has grown on me. It's not planted in a great spot -- only gets afternoon sun, and it's planted against a building (shed) so it has crowded itself against the wall -- but it still blooms, and needs to be thinned and moved. Likely I can share this one this year.



Gladiatrix is a great Iris -- you'll love it. I've had mine since 2012 and it has bloomed both springs past. I'd have to check my rhizomes -- I don't remember if I moved that one last year or not. If I have rhizomes to share, I'll happily do so.



I have several more on your list, but I got them in 2013 and they're planted in my temp bed on the north side of the garage. The good news is that they survived last winter and spring, but didn't bloom. So I'm thinking that they likely aren't large enough to share yet. I could be surprised, though............

It occurs me that it might be worthwhile to share those names -- these Irises are survivors!!

Trillion
Hollywood Nights
Rustler
Rogue

Think that's it!

We all might need as 'reminders' column for next summers digging. this old head certainly will.

Also, Marilyn, check peoples plant lists for their haves and wants. I need to update my list but I am always on the look out for any dwarf iris that I am not currently growing. ....getting to be a bit nutty actually and in order for the rest of you iris lovers/collectors/growers/hybridizers to not be the nuttiest I suggest you feed my habit. LOL

Yes maam, feed your habit! Think I can do some of that!

Bonnie! Yes, we must be sure to keep you the nuttiest! Wish I could help with that...I'll have to get some little ones so I have something to share!

Mary Ann, great information!!! Thanks! We can connect later in the season about trades. Hopefully I have something you want so I can return the favor! Thanks so much!!!

I really like Cupid's Wish...I had not run across that one!

Thanks Neal!! Later in the season I'll have a better idea of what I have available. Maybe we could do a trade?

Marilyn, great idea for a thread!! I'll have to check what I have too. I may be able to provide you with Rustler, I can pot some up and bring it to you when we meet this spring. I think it's recovered enough from the gopher nibbling.

And I need to add my list most coveted ones as well.