I am trying to decide whether to get Crowned Heads or Wintry Sky. They look very similar, but are different enough to have each won a Wister Medal. What has been your experience with these two cultivars? Is there much of a difference?

I have not grown Crowned Heads but I do grow Wintry Sky. It is a reliable spring bloomer here and a lovely iris. Good luck choosing which one to grow.

I have them both, and like them both. Good Growers and very pretty. Crowned Heads has darker standards.

My Wintry Sky was a goner due to rot but Crowned Heads is doing really well. I can't speak to the blooms but they both look lovely in pictures. I had to at least have one of them!

Last year, I was trying to decide which one to get too! There are others in similar colours:

I like the contrast on this one!





Even a SA:


You can find more if you do a database search by characteristics for blue + reverse bitones.

I've ordered Wintry Sky:

because I like the overall paler/cooler look and beard colour and the dark-on-light veining on the standards. But I have no idea if it is a better grower or bloomer than any of the others.

According to the database 19 people grow

and 29 grow Wintry Sky, so you should be able to get some useful input!

They are both Keppel's, who also created the similar Alpenview. I have Wintry Sky and Alpenview. Both do okay in my garden. Not much increase, but then some of Keppel's iris don't like my humid climate much.

We rush to bring you a picture of the newest contestant:


(If you search for blue + reverse amoena, you will get Alpenview and a bunch of other beauties too! )

Don't forget Ben's Finale!

Thank you all for your input and pictures!

Probably more than you needed to know about reverse amoenas. I think you will be happy with which ever one you choose.

My Crowned Heads (3 plants) has only bloomed once in 5 years. I have 3 Wintry Sky but all were newly planted in the fall. They look healthier than the others. I love Never Been Kissed but do not have it in my garden. I am getting it in trade from someone this year.

Wintry Sky is, by far, the better grower in my garden. Crowned Heads does OK, but tends to be an every other year bloomer at best. Wintry Sky, on the other hand, is as reliable as the sunrise.

One of the iris sellers here in Ontario describe Wintry Sky as vigorous and with strong stems.

Good to know, Kent and Valerie!

If it grows well in Ontario it will have no excuse not to grow well here too!!

If memory doesn't fail me completely I bought Wintry Sky after reading that it was one of Kent's favorites.

It grows superbly here too. Planted in 2015 it's already a really nice and healthy clump.

Thanks so much for your input, Kent, Valerie, and William.

I am putting it on my list!

Valerie!

William, that's good to know!

I have both wintry sky and crowned heads. This was wintry sky's second year and the flowers are just stunning:



Crowned heads looks exactly as wintry sky. I can't tell them apart:




My wintry sky bloomed really early. It bloomed at least two weeks before crowned heads did. Although I am not sure if it had to do with the fact that this was the first spring for my crowned heads so it may not have performed at its best or bloomed as early as it normally does. I love both of them! If I have to pick one I will pick wintry sky based on the reviews from others.

@IrisLvRoses ~ to the Iris Forum!