Another reason to acquire white irises is to use them in a Moon Garden. I have one white one, 'Arctic Express', and one white with lavender interior, 'Hidden Surprise', at the entrance to my Moon Garden.



('Hidden Surprise' is in the foreground, 'Arctic Express' is in back. This picture was from 2012 when we had just revamped the other plants, so not much else but the iris was in bloom at this time.)




I also have potted 'Nordica' and 'Immortality' which I want to add to this garden , but I have yet to place those.




(While it is true that the interior of 'Hidden Surprise' and the beard of 'Nordica' have colors other than white, I have found that little splashes of color, as well as the pastels of "near white" (not really) daylilies and the soft yellow or chartreuse foliage of certain licorice plants, enhance the daytime beauty of the Moon Garden.)

Your garden sounds so intriguing, Polymerous. I love to sit outdoors as the world changes from day to night and listen to the night sounds and see the garden landscape change from sunny blooms to dramatic moon glowing foliage and blooms. I agree that a colored beard does not lessen the value of white irises in the garden. Yours are beautiful!

I did not think I would like white flowers, but they really do wonders for the garden. I have some white irises up against a wooden fence and they are so easily seen from a distance.

Thanks for a very nice article!

Thank you Vickie. I grew up with a few white blooming shrubs, such as crepe myrtles, that looked rusty or dirty as the blooms aged. It took me awhile in my own garden to find blooms that did not have that tendency. I think white is a very important 'color' in the garden. smiles

I think white is a very important 'color' in the garden

Yes, I agree. Whites make the other colors more brilliant.

I also (sadly) agree with you about some white flowers looking bad as they age. I have some white Pelargoniums which I have to constantly deadhead, as the flowers turn brown. Similarly, with a white Drakensberg daisy, the white flowers get brown streaks.

The white irises, thankfully, don't have that problem.

When I think of it, during iris season the irises I most look forward to are the (Moon Garden) whites, a seedling iris, 'Navajo Jewel' (not turquoise but very beautiful imo), and the two dark purples. I often wonder what a bed of just white and dark purple irises would look like, though I suspect a third color, a pale yellow or something pinkish, would be needed to make the whole thing really shine.

Perhaps a third color would be good but if the dark purple irises were really dark they may get lost among the whites and pinks. I guess it would depend on the amounts of each color planted and the position in the bed. I like the idea of white irises and different tones of the same color purple or blue...... and perhaps some bi-colors of white and purple.... or blue.

Disappearing darks? Hadn't considered that possibility....

A very interesting article and a great response. Food for thought... I too love moon gardens and never thought about adding white to a palette of colors. I love the diversity of ideas from everyone! It's so refreshing. both...

I love white iris they are so pretty . White flower look so nice mixed in the garden