A friend gave me several iris last summer, but only two bloomed. So many of you know iris by sight so I thought I would add to your brain processes. Does anyone have a name for this one, I have looked on the dB and thought it might be Thornbird. Any suggestions?

Sorry gang, it was taking forever to upload the pics so I"ll have to read up on that before I try again,

Aha! success in uploading a picture. Here is the NoID I was asking about. Sorry it took two entries to complete.

The horns look right but it looks a bit too yellow. Is that the lighting? Is it usually more tanish?

I only have that pic but I would say it was more tanish.

Thornbird is known to vary a lot in different soil conditions. Check out the database and see what you think. If you want a Thornbird rhizome as a test plant, I can send one in your box.

Sure looks like Thornbird to me -- it's a very unique Iris!!

my Thornbird looks quite a bit different.



It has tan standards with a lavender flush and tan on the falls where it looks white in the photo. But the lavender lines really stand out.

As Tom said for Thornbird, different soils, different color. Sometimes the 'horns' are 'spoons'.

My thornbird this year had both horns and spoons on different blooms, but the red purple horns on thornbird are different than I have seen on any other space ager.

Here are pics of mine, with different lighting really affecting the color:





Hanging with Helen Collingwood:

I have heard some people say that Thornbird is one of their favorites and I have heard some people say they would toss it. It is an odd one that has stayed around for awhile.

I think that the appeal of Thornbird is varied. It is a Space Ager; it can be different (spoons or/and flounces); it has a somewhat "Ugly" colour* range, and it is a FANTASTIC grower/increaser. Hard to go wrong on this one IMHO.



* Yes, I used the "British/English/UK" version of color to augment my point!

I grow it, but I can't really say about yours, Cleta...as mine hasn't bloomed for a close examination. But, from all the pictures I've seen, I'll agree with the "different soils, different color" thing.

Different soils do make a huge difference. I did not know that about iris, But then I have never compared mine to someone else's.

I am adding another NoID to this thread. Should I have started a new thread? Anyway here is the pic. Accurate coloring with peachy pink standards and rosy burgundy plicata falls. Any ideas from you who know all. (Hope that sounds
better than 'know it alls'?)


I read these threads and am amazed at the repartee and camaraderie between so many of you. Impressive.

Cleta, do you have any other shots of it? I would think peach standards with a spray plicata pattern on the falls would be identifiable. The sun is a bit bright, so a shadier pic would help. Iris look so different in sun and shade.
We are a chatty bunch here as you have found out. Don't be shy to join in.

I don't. I just took it for my records. I did not know I would have a forum of knowledgeable people to help me identify it,

I thought it might be "Whirl Around"?

Praetorian Guard is also similar. I don't know if that is what you have though.

Hmmmm.. In that color range, our database shows:
Llama Mama
Roman Song
Secret Melody

It would be helpful to know the beard color... also how long you've had it..