Beautiful white iris

Indeed it is! Does it have a name?

Hi Fulene!

Indeed that is a beautiful white Iris!

I don't know the name of this iris. Any suggestions?

Can't help with that but !

I don't know the name either -- but if it were mine, I'd start looking at photos at the HIPS website (Historic Iris Preservation Society). Judging by the shape of the bloom, this is an older variety.

It's charming!!

Hi ! . I agree with MaryAnn, it's an older iris, and HIPS would be a good place to check out.It reminds me of an iris I grow ( that's still a NOID, darn it !), How tall does your's grow ?....Arlyn

It grows probably about 30+" I'm sure it's a very old variety. It came from divisions from an 80 year old friend in a very old rural community. The ancient local cemetery has many of this same iris.

Isn't there an old white variety that people refer to as the cemetary iris? I think I heard that somewhere, I don't think that's the official name though.

Here's another historic Iris.Any one know what it is?

Welcome, Fulene.

The second one looks like 'Indian Chief'.

Yup, looks like an Indian to me, too! That "cemetery iris' you're referring to, Tom, is Albicans, I think.Kinda' the same sort of "pet name"thing that's applied to many of the older sorts....arlyn

Yes, and it does not get as tall or have such large blooms as the more moderns do. It is a very early bloomer too.

This is all very interesting to me. I'm not an iris expert,Ive just always had a few growing in my garden wherever I've lived. I've always loved them and I want to get more. I'll have to begin researching them. Is there anyplace reasonable to get them? They're always so expensive. I grew up with large,very purple, very fragrant, irises. I just loved the smell. Like grape Kool-Aid! (1950s) I remember, people called them
" flags".

The kool aid scent might mean that they were I. pallida.

Fulene, there are couple threads concerning Our "favorite" iris vendors, here, and on Cubits, and there are always offers of "iris for postage", or trade offers, so a person can get a nice selection for minimal expense. In your search for possible names for your iris, there are few things that it helps to know, and you may want to make notes of them, with the pictures, so you can refer to them if you need to; 1) How tall is it.?..from the ground to the top of the blossom (average of all typical stalks), 2) Does it have an aroma?..if so, how would you describe it? sweet? perfume ? Musky ? Smells like ...grapes?( i.pallida ),,Root beer, or anise? 3) Does it have 'PBF" (that stands for P urple B ased F oliage , the leaf bases, right at ground level, sometimes appear stained with a reddish, or purple color) . 4) when does it bloom ? is it the first to bloom in your garden? , or the last?5) How many "branches' on the stalk, and how many buds on each branch? (again an average), and 6) how long has it been in your garden? (or 'how long you have known this iris to have been grown). In other words, if you have had it for 15 years, and you got it from your Aunt Sally, who had it for 20 years... you know it is at least 35 years since it was introduced, and that eliminates LOTS of iris from the "search parameters!" I'm sure some of the others have tips, or additions they can share with you about I. D., but another thing to remember is you really can't positively I.D. an iris by 'picture alone" ! The only sure way, once you have arrived at a "tentative" name (or two), is to either find an "iris buddy"(there are lots here, and on Cubits, and the HIPS site, as well) who will either accept a" start" of yours, to grow next to their known iris, or who will send you a piece of theirs, for comparison. When they are grown "in the same dirt, side by side", that will tell the tale ! And , if you are like most of us, you'll love them whether they have a name, or are just "waifs and strays", because they all have beauty and also the ability to make the world seem a little better place !...Arlyn

Also -- very often you'll find potted Irises, or bare-root fans for sale at Farmer's Markets, yard sales, etc. -- and typically, they are not expensive.

Thanks, everyone
After doing some research, I think my " childhood" irises may be any or all of these: Ramses, Caprice, Quaker Lady, Pallida Dalmatica, Plumeri,
The iris in my current garden that a couple of people have identified as Indian Chief is definitely more purple than most photos I've seen of Ind. Chief, but it has a similar form. I don't think my white iris is Albicans. It's falls and beard are too ruffled, it seems to me. But it is very, very pure white with only a yellow throat.
I'll be more observant next year!

Fulene!