i have a question on rebloomers. since i live in zone 10a should i look for those irises that are in the higher zone areas such as 9a or b, or does it matter? if i choose one that is a reliable zone 6 rebloomer, is it likely that it needs more cold and less likely to bloom in my area?

Well, I'm in 5a....so I can really only postulate on *what* I grow, and "where* I grow it....but, here's my 2 cents worth:
I believe that, for you...you should be able to coax bloom from ALL the iris that are known to Re.......from "zone 3'ers", to the "zone 9'ers". I *think* that, besides the lowest average temperature (which is what the USDA zone map tracks), the number of "frost free" days, AND "day length" are important factors in getting rebloom. You should have the "frost free" days, and the "day length" !! As to "needing cold time" in order to bloom, I have heard that the MDB's, and some SDB's don't do well without some
cold time", but, for the "big guys", you should have the perfect climate!!

Here in 7 I've seen I've seen one in the ground bloom in mid November early December. This past year due to El Nino I saw randoms blooming all around town even next door in late January

thank you @crowrita1 and @Cuzz4short. i think it may be in my cards for the future to extend my blooming season w/more re's than i have now. i think i may only have about 10/60 ten out of sixty.

however, that said, i am attracted to the 'girlier', fru-fru, tutu'd one. in tonals or selfs. and i haven't seen too many rebloomers in pink, purple, or blue.

these don't fit the description but I really want 'lucy lovelace', 'ave. of dreams', 'capt. thunderbolt', 'louisa's song', 'pinkity', 'by jeeves', and 'magnificent masterpiece'.... is mm a re? i've forgotten. have to check.

any suggestions from anyone for names of rebloomers i should consider?

Living On The Edge (not listed as a RE) bloomed 3 times a year, Anxious, Total Recall, Double Shot, Reincarnation and Echo Location all performed well over here. They were all divided this year, but will be available again later on.

I'm sure there would be more if I watered my beds more during the Summer. As you already know, that's not happening with the drought.

I've had only some selfs rebloom and Lest We Forget. I purchased a ton of colorful ones this year, but haven't disciplined myself enough to keep them watered, especially this past summer. Nothing yet to emerge, but they're all new though.

I have noticed random ones not registered as rebloomers pop up too on various FB post and other buds. Sometimes a hybridizer may work for the feature, but it simply doesn't happen in their garden. As it may after being shipped off and introduced to new soils and different climates. I hear House Arrest by Keppel and some others are doing it.

If it's in the genes somewhere in the mommy and poppy plant it's quite possible to eventually occur. I move mine yearly, so I never give them the opportunity to settle. My Pink Reprise is my only potted rebloomer though that I've kept together. 5 gallon pot that started with 2 rhizomes and now has 12 after 1 year. I've kept it out of dormancy, but still no fall or winter bloom after 2 years.

thank you rob. i starred your post for future reference. i will look those up.

the only one i have is 'double shot'....

thanks gabe, i starred your post as well. what are you still doing up.....? i'm getting ready to call it a day. 😜 it's 3:45 pdt.

I have to work. I always work.
Make sure to check out Winterberry's selection of rebloomers. They're not monster rhizomes, but that's one of their specialties and the site and catalogue list the rebloom zones. Sutton's iris is great too and their pedigree is only getting better.

Daphne, you might look at Magical Encounter (pink), Blue Suede Shoes (blue), Victoria Falls (lighter blue), Rosalie Figge (purple), which all rebloom in our zone 10a garden. Magnificent Masterpiece is a rebloomer - I planted it in France this year so don't yet know how it will perform. I added quite a lot of rebloomers over the summer - I'll let you know how they get on. One of them, Cotillion Gown, sent up a bloom stalk just a few weeks after it was planted (not pink, blue or purple, but very pretty):


We fly back to France on Tuesday, when I get to see how the new rhizomes have settled in.

Daphne -- a pretty reliable purple rebloomer is Daughter of Stars.

And a pretty reliable blue rebloomer is Feedback.

thank you mika and mary ann i've starred both your posts to help me remember names when i order again.

i have a nub of 'daughter of stars' (waiting on it's growth). i've been cogitating over' rosalie figge' vs 'magnificent masterpiece'. since i have limited space, and the colors are similar which do I choose?

i have to study their characteristics and decide which one might be better suited to my area? anyone's opinion gladly accepted!

In Menton (10a), Rosalie Figge is without question the best rebloomer we have - 4 x blooms per year is the norm. That said, since I haven't seen how Magnificent Masterpiece performs.... why don't you get both and see how they do? It's not just the climate, but also our respective soils, that affect performance (and colour). Our soil in France is very sandy, slightly alkaline.

i will take your advice, mika....and instead of my two iris order, oh, oh now has become a three iris order because 'mm' was one of the original two.

my soil is horrid. it too, is sandy and alkaline. i've been trying to amend it slowly with worm castings, from my worm bin. but the process is slow.

The good news is that sandy is good for irises, they like free-draining soil. The not-so-good is that sandy soil doesn't hold nutrients for very long.

UndertheSun said:Living On The Edge (not listed as a RE) bloomed 3 times a year, Anxious, Total Recall, Double Shot, Reincarnation and Echo Location all performed well over here. They were all divided this year, but will be available again later on.

@shizen
Daphne, I believe I might still have mother rhizomes of all of these irises. You may have to wait 2 years for a bloom, but there will be several increases by then. Do you want them?

thank you rob, i had better hold off to see what will bloom in my yard first. plus i have about 20 others in pots, with no place to plant in ground. but, thank you for your generous offer.

i think i bit more than i can chew, this year, and will have to wait to cull in the next few seasons before more acquisitions.😟

I finally got one!




I bought this from Tom. I am thinking it is Again and Again. I don't have my map here with me at Mom's. It is a pleasant sight on the the first day of November. It also has 3 other buds.

The only one it could be is Harvest of Memories, it's the only yellow rebloomer I have ever had, and since I had a large amount of it, I put it in lots of boxes.