I know how hard it is to identify an Iris from a photograph. And I know how people hate this question. But this Iris is so unique, that I'm thinking there can't be too many possibilities. Any ideas?




It's too pretty to spend the rest of it's life ignominiously......................

Looks a lot like Vibrations that bloomed today at my house.

Oh -- it sure does!! I'm going to research that Iris and see if I can see it in other light, etc. Thank you Bloombuddie -- it drives me nuts when one of my Irises is unidentified!!

It drives me nuts too...I have several I keep working on. Ann

OK -- as long as you understand, and you're so good at this, how 'bout this one???

there are way too many of that color to ID and it would just be a wild guess unless you have all your stakes to help

D

Ah Dee -- it never had a stake. I bought a couple packages of Irises at the end of the 2010 season (I think from Walmart) for a buck apiece. When I got them home, the rhizomes all looked shriveled up and dead -- but I planted them anyway and hoped for a good thing. One was a pink Iris, one was purple. I kept the packages in case any survived, so that I could identify the survivor(s). One rhizome did and bloomed -- and this is it. Of course, now I can't find the dang packages. Coming from Walmart, there's no guarantee what was on the package was IN the package anyway, I have since learned. But the result is the same -- I have no clue.

However -- I've never seen an Iris this color before in my life. That photograph is very accurate and the color is neon/electric -- so I was surprised when you said that there are many this color.

It is a thing of beauty. And if I never find out what it is, I'll love it just the same!!

It looks sorta similar to "Swingtown".

Thank you Stacey. I'm gonna research *Swingtown*!!

Most of the mart iris are all incorrect and not true and you are lucky it was even the same colors as the picture of the package.

D

Let me agree with Dee, it is impossible to ID an iris from a photo. Friends here and myself have compared pictures of "Fire in the Sky' grown in three Utah gardens and you would say they were different iris....soil, age of bloom, time of day, camera, all have an effect. I see specimens shown by friends at our shows that I grow in my garden and think they look a little different from mine. These are named iris that we have shared with each other. Good judges look for specimens that are "typical" of the variety. If you like your iris grow it, enjoy it, but don't worry about it's name. As to our friends in the garden department at the "mart" stores, last year they had about two dozen lovely plants of peonies blooming in a multitude of forms and colors here, white, pink, yellow, single, double. All had labels that read 'Sarah Bernhart' which is a classic very double pink. They were very pretty and I was tempted but I passed them by as proper ID is important to me and I only have so much space.. Watch pictures of other flowers such as daylilies posted here on ATP to the data base and you will see quite a difference in pictures of the same variety from different gardens. Here is the one noid I allow in my garden which I keep because it's color and size are just right to go with some of my pottery pieces for designs for the artistic division at our shows. I certainly got wordy here...forgive me...and keep sharing your iris with us We need all iris lovers here...

I completely agree that ALL of the "Marts" and "Home Improvement/Garden Centers" should be avoided at all costs. If they are 10% correct I would be VERY surprised. If the shopper does not care about name OR color, and can get over the 50% casualty rate, then go for it. I made this same mistake in 2008. I have tossed every one I got save one, which I was successful in identifying. That ID came from 6 different people and two gardens (where I took my stalk and compared). Just stay away!!!!

Of course, as I write this there is an advertisment to my right for one of these "institutions" (in this case Lowe's).

Mary Ann - It could possibly be Gypsy Romance, too, in addition to Swingtown. They both look very similar.

Thank you Stacey. I'll research that one too!!

And just to set Dee's mind at ease -- whenever I tentatively identify one of my Irises, on the nameplate I always put a question mark after the name -- to remind myself and anyone that I may end up giving rhizomes to, that I am not positive of the identification.

Just so you know why the mart iris have such a bad rap about 5-10 different people from different states decided to test this. We all bought the same iris (what it was pictured and description on the package) First we found out that different marts had the same picture on the package but with different names.

Next we planted them keeping the packaging to check.

Out of my 10 only one MIGHT have been correct. Example they had a white one on the picture and it was yellow do not remember the name they had as this was about 8-10 years ago.

Now, saying all this I know in the beginning I bought them...now only from growers.

Example, on nurseries carrying the Japanese Iris they call Pink Lady, never registered and about 3-4 with that name sold here locally and all different.

Not doing a sermon here, just thought you would like to know why we are dead sit against mart iris. Now saying this and you have a driveway or an area you only want alot of color and never want to know if they are correct, they are super for that reason.

D

Oh -- I know, Dee. I've been caught up in that trap -- not only with Iris but with Daylilies too. Years ago I bought a package of *Mother Earth* from Lowes. Turned out it was *Clarence*. That was a good thing -- I prefer Clarence!!

Last year I bought a package of *Calico Jack* Daylilies from Walmart. Was so excited (didn't realize at that time that errors are the norm here, just thought it was a fluke the first time around) -- and when they bloomed, they were just a plain yellow. I was so disappointed. Also bought a rose colored Daylily at the same time -- it didn't bloom last year, but I'll find out this year what I've got -- and waddya wanna bet it ain't rose???

That was quite an experiment you'all did with buying the same thing in different states. Your results sure speaks volumes!!! For myself, I want to know the names of my plants. They are chosen with care, loved and admired and I need to know who they are. I agree that it doesn't matter a bit for someone who just wants flowers!

I'm in the position where I want both. I want to know the names of most of mine, especially if I want something to trade, but if I see something I like, I'll keep it without a name. No tag, no name. My daughter knows this, as does my granddaughter. So, in 70 years, by the time Jenna is done trading, well, who cares.