A question has been looming in my mind, so I figured I would start a thread asking a few questions: What are some irises you have or even want that you think are underrated or overrated?

There's not a guideline with this question, but I'm going to give my reasons for what I picked and why.

Underrated:
I don't have one yet in my garden that is named and has bloomed.

Overrated:
Edith Wolford -

At least for me, Edith Wolford bloomed once (from Lowe's) and has not since. It has been more than five years since it last bloomed. Perhaps it were the rhizomes shipped to Lowe's, or the less-than ideal placement, but it grew increases that were small and never got much bigger. Then, after a transplant, both rhizomes and its increases rotted nearly to gonnerhood. I'm giving Edith Wolford another try (there is a tiny snippet left of it) and I am hoping she rebounds, because when she did bloom, EW was fantastic.

What are your picks for overrated/underrated irises?

Monty ~ Edith Wolford did not bloom for me the first year, but many do not bloom the first year. I think that she shrunk as well. I hope that she grows this year. Maybe she will bloom next year.

My own experience with 'Edith Wolford' was from before I started buying irises directly from the growers.
I got it mail order, dry and bagged in late spring... or actually it was soft and had started to rot in the bag, so my experience with 'Edith Wolford' was very short indeed - she never really started to grow. Can't say that was a fair trial, though!

I think Soul Mate is very under rated. It did get an honorable mention, but I think it's deserving of more. It is a prolific grower and blooms with "to die for" show stems and beautiful blooms. It's one of my favorites.

Over-rated: Dusky Challenger. According to the AIS Symposium survey, this is the most popular iris in the country, but it won't perform for me. I've planted it twice in my two best beds and have gotten very poor growth and bloom.

Under-rated: Here is an iris that gets very little attention and yet is beautiful, increases well, blooms profusely and has substance that holds up very well in the 90 degree heat we frequently get in May. It won an HM in 2015. It is one of my favorites.

Edith grew slowly and bloomed occasionally for me. I gave it all away.

I don't know that I have many I would call overrated. Some perform horribly for me, but are growing and blooming like crazy for others on this site. I think an overrated iris to me would be one that blooms and the colors are not what you expected, and instead of being vibrant they are sort of meh.
Darcy's Choice was one of those for me. It had rot after I first got it, so I cleaned it up and nursed it back to health. I got it growing, then after waiting all that time to see a bloom? What a let down.
I was looking forward to this: but mine was so faded and blah in comparison. Darn.

Underrated? A whole bunch of yellow and white iris. Guess they don't garner the oohs and ahhs as much. One that grows well and gives you lots of blooms deserves some love. Joviality is one such:

That sure is a nice pic of Joviality, Les.

janwax said:That sure is a nice pic of Joviality, Les.

Thanks, I got Joviality from a generous NGA member. It has really performed AND survived the rot that took out most of it's garden. Nothing but praise for this one.

IB Carriwitched a plicata which never gets much notice will take over the garden if you let it.

There are a lot of pretty ones here that y'all think are underrated. Jovality has been on my wish list for awhile, and if it can survive in Leslie's rain drowned gardens, it is a welcome sight here.

Shame Darcy's Choice was not what you were looking for, Leslie. In pictures, it sure is stunning.


Andrea - Advanced Degree is lovely! I am super glad it does well in your garden, it seems. Would you be willing to trade, perhaps?

Tom - I looove Soul Mate. It is a great looking iris. It will go on my wish list....

I'm going to start a middle of the ground list as well - irises that you think are perfectly rated. Not underrated or overrated. What do ypu think?

Some of these I don't have, but my first pick for perfectly rated is Montmartre.

I cannot describe the true beauty of this iris. It is so pretty, and I don't even have it.

Thornbird - Perfectly rated. I have it, but it has not bloomed yet for me. And, even though it has not increased yet, I expect big things from this brown iris. Colourwise, it is fantastic for a brown!

Monty, I'd be happy to send you a piece of Advanced Degree. Just remind me this July when I start digging up my iris. It is in a bed that I am going to redo this summer.

Hooray, thank you! I'll remind you then.

Oh goodie - can I beg a piece?

I'd be happy to share with you, Marilyn. Get back to me this summer.

I have loved Dusky Challenger in my garden and in others. It grows so well for me and the rhizomes are so plump. It just stands out.
I, too, was gifted Joviality from a sweet NGA member and it is growing really well after a not so stellar beginning here. It looks like a tough plant and is growing well. Can't wait for it to bloom.
I totally agree about Edith Wolford being finicky. I am having a second try from our club sale but am not seeing much growth.
Two that would take over my garden are Glowing Smile and Eagle Control (SA) as well as Royal Birth which is a beautiful white hybridized by Ernie Royal which has tough substance and tall strong stems. It would cover half of my garden if I let it.

On my list! THANK YOU!

Monty - I would have to agree that both Montmartre and Thornbird are perfectly rated for our area. Some of my best growers.

on Thornbird being a great grower! I keep forgetting to order Montmartre, but fortunately it is not hard to find even here.


Thornbird:


An iris I also love and find to be very underrated (maybe because of the colours? ) is TB Guatemala, which is a great grower and bloomer here:


Man's Best Friend is also vigorous and blooms generously:

I still really want Man's Best Friend. Altogether, I want to expand my collection of littles. I have three SDBs and I will change that. IBs will make for a great "buffer" between when my daffodils bloom, and my noid TBs start showing up.