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May 13, 2015 7:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lori Morrow
Enid, OK (Zone 6b)
I want them all!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Daylilies Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Oklahoma
Here are mine. Bonnie I lost my own argument, Midnight Oil is darker than Black Suited. Maybe more of a brown cast than purple?

Midnight Oil

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Black Suited

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Superstition

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Earlier dark purples, not "black" but fairly dark.
Sable

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Holy Night


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May 13, 2015 7:52 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
Black Irises either tend to the "purple/violet" side or to the "red" side. I tell my customers at the fair that the newest "Blacks" are getting harder to tell which cast they have because they are soooo black!
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May 13, 2015 8:01 AM CST
Name: Greg Hodgkinson
Hanover PA (Zone 6b)
Garden Photography Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Region: Japan Region: Pennsylvania
supposedly I have 12 black irises. I say supposedly since two listed I got from the local iris society retiree whoes record keeping has been suspect. *

IB

Helen Proctor
Star in The Night


TB

Anvil of Darkness
Before The Storm
Black is Black *
Black Suited (of the 3 Black's Sterling Innerst introduced; this by far and away is the best one; both from a color standpoint and a hardiness standpoint)
Black Tie Affaire
Hello Darkness
Night Ruler
Obsidian (lost)
Ozark Rebounder
Raven Girl *
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May 13, 2015 8:04 AM CST
Name: Cynthia (Cindy)
Melvindale, Mi (Zone 5b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Irises Butterflies Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Birds Region: Michigan Vegetable Grower Hummingbirder Heucheras Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Only have one, BLACK IS BLACK
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Lighthouse Gardens
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May 13, 2015 8:10 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
Here is a little new one that surprised me with its blackness but it is still plum.
Dark Matter
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Here is my first blooms on Coal Seams
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Before The Storm
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Old Black Magic
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Kathy Chilton has really dark falls
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As does Matt McNames


I will not post Men in Black and Superstition as they are just dark purple.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
Avatar for crowrita1
May 13, 2015 8:11 AM CST
Name: Arlyn
Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)
Beekeeper Region: Illinois Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015
This isn't the "blackest" iris I grow.....just the latest one to bloom:

Thumb of 2015-05-13/crowrita1/cadb3e

Blackberry Ripples (Hedgecock 2009)
The bloom kooks too "purple" , I suppose, to call a "black", but the falls have a satiny black sheen, that I Really, Really like !
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May 13, 2015 8:16 AM CST
South central PA (Zone 6a)
Irises Region: Pennsylvania
Only one, has not yet bloomed this year, Night Ruler:

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Last year pic, in the rain.
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May 13, 2015 8:23 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
I have bought more black, pink and blue irises only to find that the black ones were lovely but purple, the pink ones were beautiful but cream or peach and the blue ones were almost all shades of lavender. I see others growing the colors I covet so I think my problem was buying from a photo on a vendors site. Some are quite deceptive. AND never buy because an iris is named a color....... yeah, right!
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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May 13, 2015 12:39 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I have Midnight Oil but it has only bloomed once. I have only a few that are the dark purple/black & red/black, like Study In Black, and Coal Seams
and a couple on order (Black Lightning, Sinister Desire).
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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May 13, 2015 1:54 PM CST
Name: Cynthia (Cindy)
Melvindale, Mi (Zone 5b)
Daylilies Hybridizer Irises Butterflies Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Birds Region: Michigan Vegetable Grower Hummingbirder Heucheras Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Wow, Coal Seams looks really black.
Lighthouse Gardens
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May 13, 2015 2:31 PM CST
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Here are some of my best black irises that seem to thrive here. They at least survive the bitter cold winters
and scorching summers!



The late Sterling Innerst would most likely be my pick for black iris introductions. And I do not intend to belittle anyone
else in the business, but I can only speak for what survives, grows, blooms and looks attractive in the garden. And his irises
are some of the finest I've grown.


The top ones are my pick as the best in 'black' irises. I can't leave out Schreiners' Hello Darkness as a good, good iris: It
is my #3 choice, and I would always keep it around. It's a keeper for Sure! And Before The Storm still resides here too.
These are my personal choices; and Im sure different gardeners will have a much different take on 'black' irises. Smiling

Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
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May 13, 2015 2:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lori Morrow
Enid, OK (Zone 6b)
I want them all!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Daylilies Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Oklahoma
So far I have to have
Old Black Magic
Anvil of Darkness
Before the Storm
Coal Seams

And I wasn't going to add anything this year...guess that went...well we all know where it went!!
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May 13, 2015 3:55 PM CST
Southern California (Zone 10a)
Irises Native Plants and Wildflowers
"Devil May Care" in my garden has very black petals -- even in strong SoCal daylight -- but the interior is glowing purple with orange beards emanating from that. "Sinister Desire" looks a bit purple in the photo, but to the eye the falls look very black, with just a touch of dark cherry near the edges and a bit more in the standards. "Black Lightning" so far has only given me one funny little water-spotted bloom.


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May 13, 2015 5:31 PM CST
South central PA (Zone 6a)
Irises Region: Pennsylvania
Welcome IrisHart; enjoy the forums. Post lots of pix.
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May 13, 2015 5:36 PM CST
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Region: United States of America Region: Indiana Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Master Level Peonies Hummingbirder Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
DaveinPA said:Welcome IrisHart; enjoy the forums. Post lots of pix.

That goes for me too. You will enjoy it here I'm sure! Smiling
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
Avatar for crowrita1
May 13, 2015 6:28 PM CST
Name: Arlyn
Whiteside County, Illinois (Zone 5a)
Beekeeper Region: Illinois Irises Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I agree Welcome!
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May 13, 2015 7:59 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Hemlady said:Wow, Coal Seams looks really black.


It is very dark, but you see the purple in it in the sun. I think it is a very pretty iris in color and in its ruffly form. And it increases well and produces lots of blooms. Which gives it lots of stars in my book.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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May 13, 2015 8:04 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
I think I am going to try Midnight Oil again. I like Lori's photo of it in her garden. Perhaps the 'more brown than purple' coloring is what attracts me to it.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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May 13, 2015 8:07 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Durham, NC (Zone 8a)
Garden Photography Cat Lover Irises Region: North Carolina Peonies Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Bonnie - when mine did bloom the blooms are definitely of the red/black shade of black when you see it in full sun. I think you prefer the red base? Which means you should be happy with Oil.
"The chimera is a one time happenstance event where the plant has a senior moment and forgets what it is doing." - Paul Black
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May 13, 2015 8:09 PM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
Garden Ideas: Master Level Dragonflies Bulbs Garden Art Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Gardens in Buckets
I think I would. So many that I grow are really purple at least it would be a different shade of 'black'. LOL
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?

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