Hello, on Mother's Day my young niece said that she thought black iris were COOL! I only grow one and it is a very slow grower, Fade to Black. I would like to purchase her some rhizomes. I always like to encourage a budding gardener, lol. I know there are quite a few, any suggestion on a good all round one?

Thank you,
Teresa

We have a few black iris that we could be talked into trading very easily if you like. We have doubles of Before The Storm and Coal Seams.

Blessings

I assume you are talking about a TB.? Several years ago I went on a quest for a black iris. I have been really un-impressed with the results. In my yard they are all very dark purple, red, plum or blue. So I tried to find one that is the darkest. I still grow Anvil of Darkness, Before The Storm, Old Black Magic and Coal Seams. I recently shared away Men In Black. It was interesting as it had a bronze beard but in my garden I just do not have the space to grow that many 'black' irises. I had several people tell me that Midnight Oil was the darkest they grew. I tried a rhizome of it twice and it just disappeared so I said a fond farewell to that idea. If you want a smaller iris Dark Matter is a very black looking SDB with ruffles and Black Lightening is a very dark blue one. I grow a little BB, Honky Tonk Hussy, that is so dark red it is hard to capture any color in a photo of it. Keep records of your progress in selecting a 'black iris' as others will come along with the same questions I had.

Midnight Oil is quite dark (with a deep red cast in full sun) but doesn't grow well for me. Coal Seams is a very very dark purple/black and is a champion grower. Very pretty blooms too. I love Black Lightning. It photographs lighter than it really is, but is very pretty in the garden. I don't really grow any other black selfs, and I have never seen any that are just true black. That said, I have two on order - Black Olive, another dwarf, and AmpItUp which is deep cherry black.

As mentioned, there really isn't a true black iris, although some very dark ones. I have Raven Girl, and it's a nice one, I have coal seams but it hasn't bloomed yet, but is making a nice clump.

Leslie, Black Olive sounds intriguing.

I grow Anvil of Darkness. I love Noble Gesture - really a very dark purple, but a beautiful big
ful form.

Black Lightening. photo by Chuck Chapman.

Oh, thanks for all the post. Today or well now yesterday was such a busy, crazy day! I am up for trading a few plants later. I am really learning to appreciate those little fellows, does anyone grow them in elevated troughs for better viewing? I am hoping to make one for my mini hosta. The hypertuffa ones.

Teresa,
My blackest iris is "Black Suited" (left). It is one of my favourite blacks along with "Dark Passion" (middle) which is a very dark purple with frills and is scented and "Devil May Care" (right) which has dark purple standards and black falls with a beautiful orange and blue beard.

I like the beard on Devil May Care, Robin. You have some nice ones.

Teresa, I grow the little guys in all kinds of situations. Some in buckets, tubs, troughs, barrels, and of course in dedicated iris beds. One thing you have to keep in mind is that they need a lot of root room. Even though they are short their root system is not so short so they need enough space to grow deeply for food and moisture. Planted in smaller pots of two gallons will require you to water them when rain is not scheduled.

Sinister Desire is dark as well (IB). It is the parent of Devil May Care. We happen to have them both but it is a very long shot of a photo. I will try to do better this year.

My Midnight Oil bloomed today, reminding me how dark it is. Close up you notice the deep red color in it, but otherwise it looks as black as can be in the garden.

I just LOVE the beards on Devil May Care.

Black suited was the blackest last year when I went to Schreiner's. I paid attention because my daughter likes black flowers. It has dark purple beards, and the rhizome I received in the mail was incredibly vigorous looking.

I agree with Niki. This is a picture of Black Suited from my garden. It is a good grower for me and one I have not had rot on. I love this one. This is my 5th year with this one and I have had to divide it once.

It's beautiful, Mary Anne. I also have that Iris, but have had to move it twice, so it's not blooming for me this year....

I love my Before the Storm, my only black iris. I have had it for 16 years, and still love it.

I have Before The Storm too -- it is looking especially beautiful this year.

Mary Ann, are you having problems with so much rain? I am having a few that seem to rotting at the base and the stalks falling I wish the sun would shine tomorrow!!

On a good note the daylilies are loving all this rain and are huge.