Well I got a response from the bulb company:
" Good morning and and thank you for your interest in our product. I spoke with the Director of XXXXXXXXX and he stated, " Yes, if the package says Grateful Red then that what it is." We also sell the Red Hawk too. If you should have any further questions regarding this matter please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for choosing XXXXXXXX and have a wonderful day."
Doesn't really answer the question does it? "If it says Grateful Red then that is what it is." Guess there will be a whole lot of people expecting Grateful Red to look like Red Hawk then! Doesn't help that they also sell Red Hawk, because it could still be either (or yet another red iris for that matter). I wrote back to request that they change the picture on the package, and suggested that Schreiner's picture of Grateful Red would probably sell them a bunch of rhizomes (it IS a nice picture).
As to the rhizomes - many looked to be very dry, but the one I chose was a pretty healthy rhizome. Lots of roots (many didn't have) and some of the fan was still green (gasp!). So I feel pretty certain it will survive the winter. If it ever blooms, and it really is Grateful Red then I win out. If it is another red - I won't kick it to the curb though because I like reds.
Doubt I will change the world, but thought I would give it a little try.
