We're Celebrating Irises This Week!

Welcome to the Member Ideas area! This community feature is where our members can post their own ideas. These posts are unedited and not necessarily endorsed by the National Gardening Association.
Posted by @dave on
We open our Irises Celebration Week with a look at the top cultivars, top comments, most thumbed images, a contest, and more!

Share your photos this week, and keep watch on the photos that get shared by others. Give thumbs to the ones you like, and participate in our irises forum. At the end of the week, I'll give a report of the best images and the most active members. Each member featured in that report will be awarded the Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Microbadge! You can always see the latest iris photos by going to the ATP homepage and you'll see the latest pictures right below the articles.

And now, let's see the most popular iris cultivars in our database:

#1: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Immortality')

@buddysgrmpa says, "I saw this iris blooming into December in Lawrence, Ks. Z5 Bloomed for me after Thanksgiving. Not as much substance as newer varieties, but powerful performance make it top 10. Mark B. in Ks."

@flowersrjen added, "Rebloom in late August"

Photo by janwax
Photo by avmoran

#2: Blackberry Lily (Iris domestica)

@mjsponies says, "I've had this growing in one of my "No man's land" beds for years. Always takes care of itself. It has to; no pampering for that bed. Drops seeds and I occasionally get a seedling, so I would say not invasive at all. I might collect some to sow this year and see whether I can spread it around the garden a little."

Photo by sandnsea2
Photo by valleylynn

#3: Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Batik')

@Dodecatheon3 says, "Batik is a beautiful iris, but after growing it for several years, I've noticed it gets leaf spot more severely than any of the other irises I grow."

@KentPfeiffer added, "Probably Alan Ensminger's most famous creation. It grows very well here, far better than most broken colored irises."

Photo by Calif_Sue
Photo by irisfarmer

#4: Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris (Iris 'Cat's Eye')

@KentPfeiffer says, "Just a great iris, rampant grower."

Photo by Muddymitts
Photo by Paul2032

#5: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Sea Power')

@PollyK says, "Beautiful Blue. And a lovely picture!"

@Newyorkrita added, "If you love ruffles, you should love this iris. Extremely ruffled and blue!"

Photo by MShadow
Photo by Calif_Sue

#6: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Dusky Challenger')

@Marilyn says, "This is a gorgeous flower! I only had it in bloom for the first time in 2010 after planting it the Fall of 2008. The color and height are stunning! I'm not surprised it won the Dykes Medal! Everything about this plant is wonderful! If I had to grow one Tall Bearded Iris, this would be the one! It's truly a winner in all aspects! It's been in the Top 10 of the Iris Society Poll for years and for good reason!

I got rid of all my Irises in the Fall of 2010, but I've been tempted to grow this one again! It's so beautiful! I just might have to make a spot to grow 'Dusky Challenger' again!"

Photo by TBGDN
Photo by ARUBA1334

#7: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Stairway to Heaven')

@mattsmom says, "Wonderful increase here in my zone 4a garden."

Photo by Sheridragonfly
Photo by TBGDN

#8: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Silverado')

@Irislady says, "Nothing but beautiful"

Photo by KentPfeiffer
Photo by KentPfeiffer

#9: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Decadence')

@mattsmom says, "Absolutely beautiful bloom, somewhat slow to increase here in my zone 4a garden."

Photo by mattsmom
Photo by MShadow

#10: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Starship Enterprise')

Photo by Lestv
Photo by Lestv

#11: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Queen's Circle')

@KentPfeiffer says, "Well deserving of the Dykes Medal."

Photo by TBGDN
Photo by KentPfeiffer

#12: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Gypsy Romance')

@Newyorkrita says, "Beautiful iridescent sheen on the purple colored flowers of Gypsy Romance."

Photo by cinizmprotasov
Photo by TBGDN

#13: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Happenstance')

@KentPfeiffer says, "One of the best growing pink irises I've had in my garden."

Photo by KentPfeiffer
Photo by Anne

#14: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Florentine Silk')

@KentPfeiffer says, "Strong growing, heavy blooming variety. Great combination of colors."

Photo by Betja
Photo by Marilyn

#15: Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

@Newyorkrita says, "Siberian Irises bloom late spring to early summer. The beardless iris flowers come in a rainbow of purples, off purples, yellows, and whites, with both single and double flower forms. Once established, Siberian Irises are totally care free."

Photo by pixie62560

#16: Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris (Iris 'Bluebeard's Ghost')

@KentPfeiffer says, "One of the best SDB's I've ever grown. Should win the Dykes Medal if there is any justice in the iris world."

Photo by TBGDN
Photo by tveguy3

#17: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Paul Black')

@Newyorkrita says, "The color on this purple iris is just incredible: a glowing saturated purple. The beards are a striking orange. I have other purple irises in my garden but none with this color combo. The contrast between the purple and orange makes the flower just jump out at you so it becomes very noticeable. It is my favorite purple and one of my top 5 favorite irises. A good no fuss grower in my garden and a good increaser.."

Photo by MShadow
Photo by ARUBA1334

#18: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Hello Darkness')

@KentPfeiffer says, "Slow grower for me."

Photo by dirtdorphins
Photo by avmoran

#19: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Jesse's Song')

@LiliMerci says, "tall and prolific bloomers."

Photo by Moiris
Photo by Calif_Sue

#20: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Before the Storm')

@KentPfeiffer says, "Very nice black iris, well deserving of the Dykes Medal. Good grower and reliable bloomer."

Photo by KentPfeiffer
Photo by KentPfeiffer

#21: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Poem of Ecstasy')

@mattsmom says, "Gorgeous bloom, very good increase in my zone 4a garden."

Photo by 4susiesjoy
Photo by mattsmom

#22: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Victoria Falls')

@Dodecatheon3 says, "This one is nicknamed 'Victoria Falls Down' because most of the stalks flop over. It is still an iris I like to keep because it has a lovely fragrance and so many flowers. I consider it a cutting iris and bring the stalks that flop inside. They are absolutely delightful as they lightly perfume a room. The flowers open a darker periwinkle color and lighten as they age.

Schreiner's Garden lists this as having three main branches and two spurs with up to 14 flowers. It is reported to have a tendency to rebloom. Various members of my family have grown this variety many years, but it has not rebloomed for us in zone 6b."

Photo by MShadow
Photo by dyzzypyxxy

#23: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Fogbound')

@MaryinLa says, "Grows and blooms well in zone 6a, Marshfield, Missouri."

Photo by Snork
Photo by KentPfeiffer

#24: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Magical')

Photo by KentPfeiffer
Photo by KentPfeiffer

#25: Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Haunted Heart')

@avmoran says, "First Bloom, 1st Year and it won first place. Had I planted it in the ground and it had the bloom size, it might have won queen. Love it."

@KentPfeiffer added, "One of the most beautiful irises I've ever seen. Never thought I would say that about an iris that is basically grey."

Photo by Betja
Photo by KentPfeiffer

The most thumbed-up image in the Irises area is shown below:

Photo by ARUBA1334


 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Best truly pink TB? by FarminginPink Apr 6, 2020 11:35 PM 1
Iris from my garden... by campsharyn May 16, 2015 4:29 PM 4
Iris Photos by Marilyn May 15, 2015 8:17 PM 15
Always a surprise by Bonehead May 9, 2015 5:52 PM 0
Untitled by rootbound May 9, 2015 2:57 PM 0

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