After preparing to chart the bloom times of my Iris, i.e. Early, Mid, Late for the class, I began wondering if I'm understanding the AIS definitions properly.

ex.
'Warabe-Uta' EM
When more than one time is noted (EM) does that mean either E or M? or both E and M? or overlapping both?

'Japanese Pinwheel' E-L & RE vs. 'Dirigo Red Rocket' EML
Does this mean JP starts Early, ends Late and then may also re-bloom later on?

My impression, Evan, mostly it could mean any of the above. Some hybridizers are really good about the bloom time, others just put EML to cover anything.

I've been told by two different hybridizers that EM means either early mid bloom, or it means early and mid bloom.

Thanks Polly. Sounds like this could be something for folks to keep tabs on to eventually start to pin down relative bloom times.

Do you track bloom times?

I do on the sibs and JIs.

Sounds like a good project for next year. I'm going to try to do the bearded here in my blog, and then comment in the database. If a lot of us could do that I think it would be great info. To me, the bloom time is all important, as my gardens are mixed beds. If some of us could put down the bloom date in the database, and our location it would be a very useful tool for anyone trying to do combos. Or even to note what is blooming with the iris at that particular time.

EM to me usually means early in the mid season. With a dash E-L means a long season of bloom. I keep a record on what starts blooming by date, but don't note when a flower stops blooming. should, but not.☺ However I do like to know when something bloomed the year before. It can depend o the number of stalks put up in a year as to the length of bloom.