I don't grow either of them...but they certainly don't appear to be the same to me," Safari" is much more ruffled, has a "signal "patch on the falls, and the beard is "fuller"(more dense)." Seattle" is a more "tailored" form, has definite reticulations on the haft, and is more "orange toned " in color...that's MY story, and I'm sticking with it !!
I.D. comparisons are pretty darn hard to do, in the best of cases (where you have the two iris growing side by side, same soil, same light, etc), and when comparing two iris, by photos, in two different garden situations, it gets REAL challenging. I'm not to good at it, but I try
! I try to "focus "on one point at a time ...color...beard color...beard shape...any "haft markings(reticulations)...shape of the petals (both standards AND falls)...Do the falls "hang, or do they "stick out "to the side...Height...season ( is it an early bloomer, or late?) are there ruffles, lace , diamond dust, etc. Lot's of points to question , and compare ! And that's just the bloom ! Then there is the foliage, deep green? Glaucus coating on the leaves, how many buds? what's the branching like ? Does it display PBF? How much? what about the spathes? papery .green, inflated. do they show any purple "staining"? It's too tricky for me ! But, as I said, I try ! From what I've read, "Seattle" was an amateur hybrid, never registered, never "formally introduced", just "passed around", so it's going to be a "problem child" for anyone who wants to EVER I.D. it! I would urge the "originator " to at least register the iris, and put it on the books as a "real" iris. I don't do any Hybridizing (yet, anyway !)but if I did, no un-registered iris would ever leave my garden, for any reason! If it's nice enough to "pass around", it's nice enough to register!.....Arlyn