I have a purple iris, possibly a historic one, and I have been unable to identify it. Would love to know it's name, if anyone can help. It was given to me by my mom who lives in Chattanooga, TN and she has never known it's name either. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

It looks like 'Lent A. Williamson' from 1918..

wagnerea said:I have a purple iris, possibly a historic one, and I have been unable to identify it. Would love to know it's name, if anyone can help. It was given to me by my mom who lives in Chattanooga, TN and she has never known it's name either. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

Wagnerea ~ to the Iris Forum!

I believe I have the same one and after looking at "Lent A Williamson" I think that may be it. Looks like yours, right? Or, is that variety more bi-tone than mine appears?

Also check out William A. Setchel from around the same time. I have a very similar iris growing in my yard and have never been able to declare it's name for sure. All I know is, it is an historic, smells very nice, blooms on the early side and I could populate the world with it. Grows without ANY pampering. The last one is mine.

Sorry. The photos printed in wrong order.

I have a question for everyone. Is this iris what everyone refers to as Grandma's old flag iris?
Looking at all photos of Lent A. Williamson and William A. Setchel, they are both early 1900's and look almost identical.

Setchel is huge and smells like concord grapes. It was a favorite of both Mom and me in my mother's garden of the 1950s. It was the largest bloom by a significant amount in Mom's garden of many irises.