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Iris cristata 'Powder Blue Giant' - Crested Iris
Gigantic (by I. cristata standards) 3.5-inch flowers of an incredible baby blue appear on 7-inch stems. Signals are white with navy blue borders, and crests are deep yellow. This selection from the wild in Kentucky is vigorous and will form a nice clump in just a few years. A "must-have" plant! Z. 3-9
Iris cristata 'Tennessee White' - Crested Iris
A prolific bloomer, 'Tennessee White' has dazzling white flowers with yellow crests. Plant some on a shady riverbank or among Ferns. As the flowers die down in spring, the fiddleheads will be popping up to take over. Z. 3-9
Iris tridentata - Bay Blueflag
Blue-violet flowers with white and yellow markings appear in June on slender, 12-18-inch stems. This southeastern U.S. wetland native is easy to grow in average garden soil and has proven itself thoroughly hardy even in Maine. This late-blooming Iris produces its flowers in summer, making them particularly welcome, and the emerging spring foliage is blue! Z. 4-9
Siberian Iris -
Siberian Iris has always been one of our favorite perennials for late May and June with its small, elegant, blue-purple flowers held high above grassy foliage. (We also tried Bearded Irises, but they quickly succumbed to pests in our hot, humid summers.) A few years ago we came across Siberian Irises developed by Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks, and we were bowled over by the array of new colors and flower shapes; yet the exceptional grace and vigor of the species has been retained. To add to the excitement, many of them offer a second and third wave of repeat bloom during the summer once they are established, particularly in areas with cooler summers. Plant Siberian Irises with the tops of the rhizomes an inch or two below the soil surface. They_re at their best in full sun and rich soil, but they also do well in average soil as long as regular moisture is supplied. Siberian Irises are among the easiest of perennials to grow, but they can be slow to establish and generally do not bloom the first year. While they are establishing they need to be kept moist, but be sure not to oversaturate the plants, as this can be just as harmful as too little water. Marty and Jan also advise not to fertilize until they are well rooted in the ground, probably the second year. All Siberian Iris Z. 3-9
Iris 'Blackberry Jubilee' - Siberian Iris
Strong 36-inch stalks carry large, wide, ruffled flowers which are dappled and marbled in many shades of red-violet, reminiscent of crushed Blackberries. The blooms are carried four to the stalk well above the foliage.
Iris 'Careless Sally' - Siberian Iris
A palette of pastels! Large, ruffled flowers, full and round, in a blend of rose, blue, and yellow are adorned with fancy petal-like style arms. A strong grower with 3-4 buds per stalk and—best of all—repeat bloom!
Iris 'Drowsy Maggie' - Siberian Iris
Maggie can't seem to get the sleep out of her eyes as she displays a grayish wash over the purple falls, which are slightly brightened by yellow speckles. 'Drowsy Maggie' is best veiwed up close, and it makes a wonderful cut flower as the smoky color enhances brighter colored flowers. A faint violet scent becomes apparent when brought inside.
Iris 'Mr. Peacock' - Siberian Iris
New from Jan and Marty, flowers are vibrant blue with a darker blue rim and a veined white signal. They stand tall and proud on 43-inch stems, and multiple flowers create a sumptuous effect. Flowers open slowly, producing a long period of bloom.
Iris 'Not Quite White' - Siberian Iris
Repeat flowering on a small-flowered Siberian Iris! Flowers are full, round, and ruffled, and the color, appearing white from a distance, is actually white dusted with diamonds and washed in pale lavender. These flowers, on only 18-inch stems, make a great impact at the front of the border—especially when they produce their repeat blooms!
Iris 'Off She Goes' - Siberian Iris
Pale lavender-pink flowers with three or more buds per stalk and a long bloom time. Flowers are uncompromisingly large, wide, and heavily ruffled. The Society for Siberian Iris noted in a recent newsletter how fine Marty and Jan's Siberian Iris are and mentioned 'Off She Goes' as particularly outstanding with its "ruffled, starchy form" and flowers of "soft lavender blue-pink with yellow around the signal area." They also noted that 'Off She Goes' can rebloom, sending up more flowering stalks after the first round of bloom has finished.
Iris 'Plum Frolic' - Siberian Iris
Reddish plum with slight blue in the center of the falls. A strong grower with repeat bloom, once established.
Iris 'Strawberry Social' - Siberian Iris
Another new color in Siberian Irises! The deep rose-pink flowers look good enough to eat, and the neat clumping habit makes a wonderful splash of color in the garden. The gently ruffled falls are slightly arched, showing off the lovely color. Early bloom and 4-5 buds per stalk make this Iris a grand spring event.
Louisiana Iris -
A catchall name for native Iris species that occur from the southern Atlantic to Gulf Coasts and that hybridize spontaneously. Both heat tolerant and cold hardy, they typically grow in wet or boggy sites. They will also grow under more normal garden conditions as long as the rhizomes or roots are never allowed to dry out. In summer the handsome spears of foliage often go dormant, with new growth reemerging in fall. In areas of mild winters the foliage may even remain evergreen. These Irises bloom in late spring or early summer. If you have trouble growing Bearded Irises, as we do, then try these more dependable natives! Louisiana Irises grow well in full sun or light shade in acid or neutral soil high in organic matter that should never dry out. Mulch well to keep moist and to keep the sun from scalding the rhizomes. Plant them 2-3 feet apart to allow for expansion.
Iris 'Black Gamecock' - Louisiana Iris
The darkest flowers of any Iris that we can grow, this Louisiana Iris produces sumptuous velvety flowers in dark purple with black shadings. Easy to grow in full sun or light shade with plenty of moisture. Z. 4-9
Iris brevicaulis 'Birthday Blue' - Lamance Iris
During a visit to plantswoman Nancy Goodwin's garden in North Carolina a few years ago, she offered us an Iris of the richest blue with yellow highlights. A foundling scooped up by her aunt, this Iris was presented to Nancy Goodwin's mother, who lovingly tended it in her garden, where it bloomed every year on June 12, her birthday; thus, 'Birthday Blue'. A superb selection to about 2 feet high, with the flowering stalks nestled amidst the foliage. Full sun and plentiful moisture during the growing season will be rewarded with sublime blooms from this heirloom plant. Z. 6-9
Iris fulva - Copper Iris
We've enjoyed this wonderful native species in our shrub border for years. Lovely 4-inch coppery-red flowers appear on 30-inch stems in May. This Mississippi Valley native does best in sun and needs plentiful moisture during its period of active growth and flowering, but tolerates summer drought as it goes somewhat dormant in midsummer. Interestingly, it's pollinated by Hummingbirds in its native range. Z. 5-9
Iris hexagona - Louisiana Iris
One of the so-called Louisiana Irises, this native loves moist or even wet soils. Powdery blue flowers rest amidst bold sword-like leaves in May and June. Z. 5-9
Yellow Siberian Iris -
Yellow is a striking but elusive color in Siberian Iris. Marty Schafer and Jan Sacks have been working to develop yellow Siberians with rich color saturation and excellent vigor. If you gave up on yellow Siberian Iris from having tried the difficult-to-grow old _Butter and Sugar', these are the Irises you_ve been waiting for!
Iris 'Sunfisher' - Siberian Iris
This strong yellow Siberian displays simple, well-shaped flowers with deep yellow falls and lighter yellow standards. Each stem carries up to 7 flowers, and at about 28 inches, they are carried nicely above the foliage. Flowers are enhanced by a light fragrance.
