I grow lots of Iris cristata selections and cultivars, wonderful plants for New England woodland gardens. A couple years ago, I added two white-flowered cultivars, 'Montrose White' and 'Precious Pearl'. To show just how different two "alba" forms can be, click on this landscape photo, on the left is the delicate 'Precious Pearl', on the right is the very large-flowered 'Montrose White'.



Iris cristata 'Precious Pearl' has flowers that are ever so slightly tinged blue, difficult to capture the color photographically. This is a 2013 Schmieder introduction.


One of the few photos where I was able to capture the subtle blue tinge on 'Precious Pearl'


When the flowers on 'Precious Pearl' first open, the buds more clearly show the slight blue infusion.


Mature patches of 'Precious Pearl' enjoying dapple shade/sun in Joe Pye Weed's garden.


Iris cristata 'Montrose White' is a strong grower, with very large flowers of beautiful form, and brilliant yellow crests, perhaps the best white. Here, the flowers are just beginning to open.


Iris cristata 'Montrose White' in fine full flower, this patch just 1 year after planting, from a single 3" pot.

To view a page about Iris cristata 'Edgar Anderson', my personal vote for best crested Iris form, follow this link:
The thread "Iris cristata 'Edgar Anderson'" in Shade Gardening forum

Click this link to learn about one of the giant-flowered forms of crested Iris, I. cristata 'Eco Orchid Giant':
The thread "Iris cristata 'Eco Orchid Giant'" in Shade Gardening forum

These are lovely. My landscaper is putting in two new raised shade beds in an area that did not support lawn. I hope to put several varieties of iris cristata in one of them.

This year (2019) I worked on hybridizing among a fairly comprehensive collection of Iris cristata cultivars, resulting in about 50 seed pods of hybrid seed. I'm covering the seed pods with organza-tie-bags to catch the seed, and checking them each day. Today I had two pods from my crossing Iris cristata 'Montrose White' with 'Navy Blue Gem'; those two pods yielded 62 seeds:

A view of just two pods that split open, the tie-bags work great to catch the seed.


Here without the organza bag, can see the bounty of hybrid seed more easily:


A closeup of the hybrid seed, aren't they shiny and beautiful? I counted 62 seeds from this harvest. I still have 22 pods waiting for ripeness and harvest.


Seed sown from two pods from my crossing Iris cristata 'Montrose White' with 'Navy Blue Gem'


After seed is sown, covered with a light layer of seedling soil and top dressing of fine aged bark mulch, it is protected with light gauge wire mesh to protect from digging chipmunks and squirrels.


Here's what the parent's look like. Iris cristata 'Montrose White' has flowers double the size of most white varieties, heavier texture, and well expressed golden crests, perhaps the BEST white cristata. The male parent is 'Navy Blue Gem' (true plant), a small-flowered variety with really deep blue flowers. Part of my entry into Iris cristata hybridization is to make obvious crosses to see what the outcome is and what traits are expressed. The results should be obvious.

These are shade loving plants? Lovely!

Antman for a novice on crested irises could you give a brief rundown on their care and requirements? How much shade can they take? Their very pretty. Also bloom time and where do you buy them.

These irises are beautiful. I would love to see an update.