Hey y'all, I'm wanting to add on to a flower garden making it full of TB irises. Some of the ones I have naturalized over the years have had clumps become hollow in the center (old dead rhizomes); some clumps would have rhizomes that would pile on top of each other (still grow foliage but has less blooms). I've been thinking about ordering some historical TB's; assuming they are pretty hardy when naturalized. I also have Intermediate and dwarf irises that have thick clumps full of foliage and make lots of blooms. (Wishing for TB's that would do the same as my DB's and intermediates). Any Suggestions?

Naturalizing irises and having BIG iris clumps is what I love lol

Superstition has always been a good grower. it is a dark purple.

These are a few of my best growers that seem to defy adversary.

Tom very nice!

TB Iris Perfection and TB Iris Loreley have caught my eye. I'm going to add them both to my iris shop list for next year.

There's an iris that looks very similar to "Going Dutch" near the property line of my acreage, but it's on Leila's side, growing in tall grass close to the fence. I remember I ordered some TB's a few years back dry rooted and received a bonus TB iris but lost it somewhere on the acreage. Maybe when I was mowing one day, the mower blades shot the darn rhizome into the neighbor's yard and eventually established.

I'm thinking about going over there next summer to dig it up and plant it in my yard. Leila wouldn't care.

Hoping to purchase some red and black TB's ones that make big clumps fast and have tons of blooms.

Before the Storm grew through a big block of ice here one year. Great for cold climates.

Before the Storm is a nice black. I've never let it grow in one place for many years before dividing, so I don't know if it would meet your requirement for not dying out in the center of the clump. Same with Dark Passion--a purplish black that looks black from a distance.

lauriemorningglory said:Before the Storm is a nice black. I've never let it grow in one place for many years before dividing, so I don't know if it would meet your requirement for not dying out in the center of the clump. Same with Dark Passion--a purplish black that looks black from a distance.

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Before the Storm')
• Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

~ Laurie, it's worth a try

~ Lucy, I'm shocked! I guess it's name fits its purpose.

after all, it was hybridized in eastern PA. As I said quit hardy here in New England.

The strongest growing TB I currently have is Beauty Becomes Her. I had to divide it after two years. It's not a historic, but it is a fierce grower.

~Andrea, that one is very pretty. I might have to try that one too.

Totally_Amazing said:
My least favourite iris is Kochii. I don't care for the form. It always looks messy and it is taking up valuable space.

Found this on an older iris forum "My least favorite iris" if Robin says it takes up space then it's a keeper for me. Unless, it doesn't make lots of blooms. Kochii is very pretty, I don't have that many dark purple irises. @Totally_Amazing do you still have some Kochii left?

@SonoveShakespeare
Firstly, I think the iris I was calling Kochii is actually Crimson King. They are very similar.

I moved the clump in the photo above and planted them in a row in the front of one of my garden beds.


Since then I have decided that I really don't like the form of the flowers and I have only kept one rhizome to give my garden some colour in winter. Crimson King blooms late in winter and again in spring here in Melbourne.

Neon Blue makes a beautiful clump for me every year. I don't know how it performs in your climate.

Crimson King (or whatever it is) grows well for me. It doesn't have great form, but is hardy and vigorous. Biggest downside for me is that the blooms tend to get wrecked easily by the wild winter and early spring weather.

Ian, it's also worth noting that Crimson King isn't as big as today's TBs. It's the size of an IB.

'Saffron Drift' is another that multiplies well for me and has good branching.

Australis said:Crimson King (or whatever it is) grows well for me. It doesn't have great form, but is hardy and vigorous. Biggest downside for me is that the blooms tend to get wrecked easily by the wild winter and early spring weather.

Ian, it's also worth noting that Crimson King isn't as big as today's TBs. It's the size of an IB.

'Saffron Drift' is another that multiplies well for me and has good branching.

~ Joshua, Crimson King is a classic iris and I like the classics. They're more hardy than most TB's today.
"Saffron Drift" is alright, (just a plain yellow tb.) I know someone in town that has some. I may steal a few from him. They grow at the edge of his driveway. I don't think he'd notice if a couple fans were missing.

Totally_Amazing said:Neon Blue makes a beautiful clump for me every year. I don't know how it performs in your climate.

~Robin, I'm sure Neon Blue will do fine in my climate if it does fine in yours. As long as they're in zones 3 to 10, they'll be alright. You probably water yours a bit more due to your climate I assume.

robin love that clump shot of 'neon blue'

TB Stairway to Heaven is a very satisfactory plant.

I don't have pics and I'm not sure how they will do for you, but 'Pirate's Treasure', 'Batman', and 'Frequent Flyer' have done very well for me. Pirate's Treasure grows so fast I have to divide it every other year so it doesn't grow into the roses around it and they're 3' away! Frequent Flyer is't far behind and here it blooms most of the year (of course we don't get snow).

Totally_Amazing said:
Neon Blue makes a beautiful clump for me every year. I don't know how it performs in your climate.

So pretty!!