We posted that information at almost the same minute, Tom. I posted my comments on the Mindless Chatter thread.

You are all so eager for spring, all that energy has to go somewhere.

I fear too much of it is going to ordering more iris!

Henhouse said:Leslie, Quaker Lady almost made my list, and probably should have. Mine is not as pink as your picture.. The colors are a bit softer... Do you think that's camera or conditions? I ask, because some years ago, I remember someone saying there were two different plants out there both claiming to be Quaker Lady. It makes me wonder if I've got the right one.

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Quaker Lady')
• Uploaded by Henhouse

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Quaker Lady')
• Uploaded by Henhouse

To me, a clump of 'Quaker Lady' is breathtakingly beautiful. I am fortunate in that I have 2 rhizomes planted in my garden of this beautiful Historic Iris, and I can't wait to see it bloom
and build a clump as lovely as your's Sherry!

Alan - it takes a very short time for two "Ladies" to turn into a clump! It is an amazing grower.

Great! But I think I have my 'Quaker Lady' rhizomes separated by 'Queen of May' . . . and I have
2 of those 'Ladies' as well !

quaker lady is good. I would recommend blue reflection, crimson king, lovely senorita, draculas kiss,

Just found this thread...

I too have a lot that are too new to judge but there are still some real standouts!


Stolen Sweets


Trumped


Of the recent acquisitions the two above have been super performers!!



Sordid Lives


Noble Gesture


Social Graces (great substance and ruffles!)


Devil David (prolific growth & bloom)


Praetorian Guard


Subtle Beauty


Calamity Carol (super grower!)


Crooked Little Smile (prolific & fun colors!)


Backdraft (the color is a little too yellow, it has not bloomed yet this year to get a better photo, great growth!)


Babylon Queen (large blooms, prolific growth & bloom)


Wings Of Peace (stately, early bloomer, strong growth)


(... did you notice I made it a baker's dozen! )



Runners Up (OK...I cheat! )

Lovely Senorita
Brilliant Disguise
Desert Sonata (very healthy foliage)
Camera Ready

Oh, well... then I won't be playing cards with you!

I need to look over this thread again. First one that comes to my mind is Coal Seams. Fast increaser and gorgeous blooms.

Coal Seams so far has bloomed for me every year. I very pretty iris.

My Coal Seams is asleep and not growing, or blooming. It bloomed last season, but this year you can hear it snoring.

I'll send you an "awake" one Rob.

grannysgarden said:Another one I would recommend for its sheer beauty and hardiness is Prince Igor

I second that, Bonnie. Prince Igor is gorgeous, a great grower, and a steady producer of blooms. Love velvet, and Igor has that in spades.

"Silverado note" both Tom & I have colder climates. Immortality takes a season or 2 to get going. but once started does very well. Before the Storm one year survived under 4 inches of ice. American Maid is not colorful, but very tough in a colder climate. Stairway to Heaven does very well in our climate. Pink Attraction can rebloom in New England. Vanity is a good grower, but the foliage is ratty. There, I have hit 12. Not a lot of color variation , but good growers for a New England climate. Right now our only TB hybridizer is Stephie Markham who does mainly MTBs. Going over 12, Ink Patterns does well here. That gives a plicata.

I am really too new to iris to currently list 12 because I only have 25 and I only had about l0 bloom last year. Of those l0, I think my favorites and best blooming were:

COFFEE TRADER



RECKLESS ABANDON



TWO SIDED COIN



BLACK IS BLACK




I may have to add to this list after bloom time this year.

Silverado is a great grower here too, Lucy -- not a cold climate at all. I think Silverado is just one great Iris!!!

Cindy, your photo of Coffee Trader is beautiful- I went back on forth several times if I should order it, last landed on no but I think you've changed my mind again Two sided Coin really calls to me too.

Silverado gets good reviews from most of the continental US from what I've been reading. Looking forward to seeing that one bloom- it looks ghostly to me, which I love.

Nice list, Cynthia. I grow Silverado in France, zone 10a, and it's stunning - amazing when next to a stronger violet blue. I have Coffee Trader on the way from Australia right now (order from Tempo Two being delivered via the Netherlands and France, I've had notification that it's en route).
I've noticed that the DB seems to say for all irises that the max recommended zone is 9... Perhaps they don't mind a little 'push' into 10a. I have found that in France irises are quite happy to bloom in the shade or the sun; given how sandy our soil is there I'm delighted that they grow at all!