I always figured that unknown was a wandering bee.

You lost me at chocolate lasagna...


(Not my photo)

OMG, there is a BBQ place near here that has chocolate cobbler...yummm! I could go there and just have that and coffee and be very happy!!

Chocolate cobbler? OMG, indeed!!!! Do they ship?

Rhocolate robbler? (said in a Scooby Doo voice)

I've never heard of that either, but it's chocolate so it must be good!

Gabriel, I see new intros from time to time that say the tag was lost/parentage unknown (there were a couple in the Mid America catalog last year- Born this Way and its sister seedling).

Well I have SEVERAL beautiful noIDs, they could be named, but I won't know till I get a bloom if so. They would make great test dummies too. I'm not crossing any though if it's not reccomended. I'll seriously include them though if this OK for some though.

@irisarian Lucy, what's your take on this? @Aruba1334 Brad, your take?

Gabriel.....I think that the answer to your question depends on your goal. If you are just curious to see a bunch of seedlings just cross anything you like to anything else you like. If your goal is like Burtons to make specific improvement with medians or like Brads to produce TB seedlings that stand up well with those coming from top hybridizers you would do what Brad is doing.....cross the newest and best that you have. Good luck.

It helps to know what is behind the plants you cross. It is difficult enough to improve those you know. Accidents in the garden can produce 'unknown'.

I was thinking it was probably something simple like a tag getting lost...

Gabe, every seed from an iris will be like no other and therefore when it reaches maturity and blooms can be named and registered. It does not matter where it came from. However, like Paul said above, if you are going to put the work, time and space in that an iris seedling requires you would be wise to cross the ones that have the traits you are looking to develop in your new plants. Good luck.

Agreed. I'm buying ones i really want to cross at least. I had something in mind, but you get the searching and sure enough someone's made it already. Its fun just going through the database looking at all the traits of some going back. I love that some show genetic traits the skip generations or pop back up. Fun and mysterious plant. I couldn't imagine picking through the seedlings. Some I know will eliminate themselves by level of lame or muddy colors.

I'm still a year away from really trying this though. My seed pods are still drying out, but no clear sign of opening yet(from fall rebloomer). This patience game is annoying and I was really hoping to start some soon.

Gabriel, since every seed will be different I don't see why you couldn't do the same cross someone else has already done.

That is what I am going to do for my first crosses. Cross the parents of an Iris I really like and do that cross again to see what happens. Of course I can only redo the simple crosses where the pollen and pod parents are a single Iris, like By Jeeves. I don't have that many years left to try to do any serious crossing. I just want to have some fun and post the result pictures here.

Blessings

Question - Aren't the seed pods supposed to dry while still on the stalk? At least that's what I've seen in the videos I've watched.

Blessings

John, I thought so and mine is still on the stalk, which is starting to brown. I cut it as Brad I think mentioned and stuck the stem in a cup of sand.

Barbara I definitely will. I'll also try some mega crosses over the year and probably buy more current I tros when I can save a little more and properly plan. I think ultimately I'll try to make a rebloomer. Twice is always nice.

Gabe, you will have to check out Winterberry's site. They are hybridizers in Virginia and really work on the rebloom trait in irises. They sell irises from others too but they have created some re-blooming beauties. And their irises do very well here.... perhaps because they are created in the same kind of climate I live in. I highly recommend Daughter of Stars. It has not been without a bloom or new bloomstalk since August here. It still has one bloom that is trying to open. With this mornings temps I know the new bud will not open but what a star it has been.

Seed pods start to open when ripe. Watch for it when they turn brown. Mesh covering (some of us use old panty hose) at that time will catch the seeds. Got to Winterberry Gardens as they have an article on hybridizing on their site.