I love hearing about the growth of Acoma. the hybridizer (in CO) was a friend of ours & he would have loved hearing hat it did so well.

Acoma looks like it has a lot of substance, too. Beautiful.

Celia, it does. The stalks never fall over. The blooms don't stand up to heavy rain, but they do bounce back with more blooms. This year I have some that have been in the same spot for 3 years and besides increasing, I have never had so many blooms per stalk before. It isn't like the new iris that try for 8 or more blooms per stalk, but I had lots of double socketed blooms from it this year. I had about 20+ blooms, then got hit with hail, then it started again with numerous new blooms. The very last one is open today.

I'll have to take a picture of mine, this afternoon !

Here's what Acoma looks like when it suffers from Botrytis Convoluta in 2014, and then gets hit by Round Up in 2015!:


last year, prior to the fungal attack, this was a nice clump, and bloomed 4 stalks! If you notice, you can see the leaves are getting a slight yellowish color , at the top....a sign that the Erwinia "soft rot" bacteria is starting in !

I would never be able to tell if rot is present by yellowing of the leaf tips because they get a bit browned when we have above normal heat in the spring (like this spring). I do have lots more leaf spot this year, but not much on Acoma. Need to find some more fungicides to use (since they say to alternate them).

Those fans of yours still look pretty darn good for having rot issues though.

If you have been using just one type, Leslie, you should see a BIG difference when you "switch" kinds ! The disease does build up a resistance to the fungicide. I have used 3 different types ( 4,if you count the sulpher spray I do in the fall) alternating , each time I spray. I added another kind to my "rotation" this year, as I was told it was one that showed good results with the botrytis Fungus that I have been battling.
And, while the leaf "tips' are the best indicator (for me, anyway) of a problem with the rhizome.....you can notice that the whole leaf is "off color", and generally un healthy looking.
That's not to say that the bacterial rot can't strike so quickly, that the stalk, or fan falling over is your first sign. It can, and often does ! But, generally, there are some "hints' before the fans actually rot off.

Moiris said:Leon, I love, love, love Different World! It immediately went on the wish list that I have been diligently paring down (it's still ridiculously long...but I'm making progress )


It's fun to see everyone's favorites, there are a lot of wonderful irises listed here!

I did the same thing after seeing it.

Arlyn - when you have a moment can you tree mail me the names of the different fungicides you are using, and also how often you spray?

Thanks.

I agree with all of you that Different World is a beauty!

Me too Arlyn.. So little is available here these days. Most nurseries don't even carry sulphur anymore (this IS Santa Cruz afterall)

Moiris said:Arlyn...I would love to see you start a new thread..."But Ugly" favorites... But seriously, I'd be very curious to see pictures of some of the ones you are describing!

Mary Ann...after hearing your glowing review of your purple plicata NoID I was inspired to go back through the database pictures....and I found one that looks extremely close to yours. There are some minor differences, but those could be due to climate/culture issues. I did not see any others that were even close IMHO. See what you think...

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Blueberry Ice')
• Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

vs

I meant to respond to this earlier -- Marilyn you have me confused with someone else. I don't have a NOID purple plicata. I only have one and it is Jesse's Song.

My SBDs are opening and some passing by now. It has been an exciting week as most of my rhizomes are less than a year in my garden. So far, I really like Melanie Baither. She is sturdy and beautiful. Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris (Iris 'Melanie Baither')

Oops, I keep doing that Mary Ann, sorry. When I went back it was Sherry that posted this iris. Since then I saw another that is very similar...so maybe I'll re-post with both when I get time.

No prob, Marilyn!!

I want to post one Iris to the Popularity Poll -- it would be Tango Amigo, a beautiful and vigorous plant:

Are those standards slightly pink? Lovely bloom.

So glad it's on order!!

Linnea - that is a very pretty dwarf!

Celia -- I don't think so -- I'll check when I go outside today.

That is a gorgeous bloom, Mary Ann.