Broken Color Iris- Be Still My Heart!

I find that the broken color iris are doing well in my garden & catching alot of attention.

Bewilderbeast is a good example of the wild stripes I love!

Tiger Honey is increasing like a weed with only early morning sun. Stunning en mass.

Batik is died out the first tow times I planted it, but seems to do well. Third time a charm?

Anaconda Love shows promise...

The broken color iris seem to differ from bloom to bloom & year to year. Interesting to grow.

This message was edited Mar 18, 2007 11:22 AM

Mind if I add a few of my BCs to your thread, Wanda?

Here's an SDB, Gnu Generation

Are those Beared Iris ?

Whoops--Here is Gnu! Love to see what you are growing , Laurie!

These are bearded iris--mostly TB.

This message was edited Mar 9, 2007 6:18 PM

IB, Blueberry Filly

Love that blueberry color! Her is something a little different Gnu Rayz (IB)

BB, Baboon Bottom

Hot Dogs & Mustard plus several others were donated to my garden by a wonderful long-distance friend--- Merlie!

MTB, Kaleidoscope

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. They too are my favorite along with alot of the bi colors. Thanks for the great pics!

MTB, Joseph's Coat

King Tush

Humoresque

Gorgeous!!! All of them. I also have a soft spot for the broken colored cultivars. I came real close to ordering Bewilderbeast tonight, then decided not to. Now I wish I would have. Sigh...more shopping to do. ;)

I've lost Batik once also. That was a couple years ago, so I just bought another one tonight hoping it was a fluke or something, and this one will survive.

I tried Batik two or three times and lost it each time. Never did see the doggone thing bloom.

Laurie

I wonder what's up with it that makes it so whimpy?

I don't know. Blueberry Filly looks similar, and it's a reliable bloomer for me, but it barely replaces itself each year. I think I've been growing it for 4-5 yrs, and my clump has never had more than 2-3 rzs in it at one time.

I ordered Jumpin Jack Flash, and it looks similar to Batik also. I hope it's stronger.

They are all beautiful! I especially like Gnu Rayz (IB), those colors are just yummy, and the first one posted too...wow, what beauties. Thanks for sharing!

Wanda and Laurie, the two of you put up some great Broken Color irises! I love them too!! Breathtaking!

Batik grows well here in the southwest climate. Just one of those fussy growers I guess.................... could be it just doesn't like the cold and/or the wet.

OK if I add a few Wanda?

Gnus Flash

Gnu Again

Spiced Tiger. One of my favorites.

Laurie, I love Joseph's Coat. I tried growing it once, but since MTB's really don't do well here....... it never bloomed, just slowly died. However, ...... I may have to try it again!! Is it a good grower for you? Or does it tend to be weak?

Violet Tiger. (Note: this is NOT my photo. I'm hoping mine will bloom this spring.)


This message was edited Mar 9, 2007 9:01 PM

This is the only one I have that looks like it may be in this category, I have no idea what the name is though. This is one I sent to you in a trade Wanda...do you remember?

Spcied tiger is beautiful!!!

*Seedling. (One of it's parents is Tiger Honey.) Instead of the common white streaks, it has RED streaking.


This message was edited Mar 9, 2007 9:02 PM

That is beautiful, how long does it take them to bloom from seed?

Janet, Once planted - they need to germinate. Once the seeds have germinated usually (on average) 2 years. but, they are well worth the wait. :-)

~Margie

So it takes the seeds two years to germinate? I have never tried to do Iris, I have grown some of the old flag types from seed, but quite by mistake....lol they seeded in my yard from a neighbors and one summer I had flag iris...lol...but i have no idea when they were first seeded...so I wasn't sure. Do you just plant them in soil and wait and see if they come up or do you root them somehow and then plant the seeds....sorry, if I am asking too many questions...point me somewhere and I will read about it if that is easier...I am so impressed with what you do!

Margie,

Honorabile and Kaleidoscope are both vigorous here. Joseph's Coat was planted in '05 and gave me maiden bloom in '06, so it really hasn't had time to clump up yet. I expect it'll start clumping nicely this year since, like Kaleidoscope, it is a sport of Honorabile.

Kaleidoscope was a very happy surprise in my garden when it gave me maiden bloom last year. I planted it in '04 from a trade with a gal who sent it to me as a mislabeled SDB. I had it planted between two other SDBs and knew something was amiss when it started growing a much taller stalk after the other SDBs had already finished blooming. Fortunately, there really isn't any other iris that looks like Kaleidoscope, so it was an easy ID when it bloomed. Just so happens I'd been wanting to add Kaleidoscope to my collection for years, so I was ecstatic!

Laurie

Janet, I'm happy to answer your questions. That is the only way any of us learn.

Most iris seeds have a germination potential for up to 18 years. That is how they survive in the wild. Most of the TB seeds that I have sown will germinate within the first 3 months after sown, or the following spring (at about the same time (February and March here)). Over a 2 year period - on average - about 70 - 90% of the seeds will germinate. And that is usually because they are under "controlled conditions."

Now once they have germinated/sprouted - - it is then that they will usually take another 2 years to bloom. So - if everything goes well........you can see the seedling bloom for the first time in about 2 years and 3 months once the seed has been planted in the ground.

Click here to read this thread. It'll tell you more about planting and growing iris seeds.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/699803/

I hope you give it a try. :-)

I will read the other thread, thanks so much. I did want to ask this really quick question. I have a beautiful blue iris that gets the seed pods every year, but they never ripen, they usually are empty or rot before ripening...is this something I can prevent? It is a tall bearded Iris, "silverado" and it is beautiful and multiplies quite well for me...but no seed...I have never gotten seed from any of my iris...

Thanks Laurie, sounds intriguing and promising. I'll follow any information you obtain on it, and then (chances are) buy it and try it again. "Joseph's Coat" indeed has a look all it's own! Thank you for posting that photo.

~Margie

Janet,

Seed pods without seeds are called "air-pods". Some, or possibly all of them, are due to bees - where the pollen didn't really take for one reason or the other. Maybe the bees pollinated it with pollen from something other than iris. ????

I've heard that seed pods will rot before ripening because they get too much rain. That's not a problem here in the desert.......... So I can't confirm that statement one way or the other. Maybe the best thing you can do - is give it better drainage by mixing sand into your soil. Or if 'Silverado' is the iris that you wish to get seeds from - - try potting it up (into a large pot), and in your area - use a good potting soil that WON"T hold moisture.

When you read that other thread, you'll also find 2 links on how to hybridize your irises to MAKE your own seeds. Occasionally bees WILL fully pollinate irises and you'll get seeds that way too.

I love sharing this info - - so don't be afraid to ask if you have more questions.

~Margie

Must be the bees, I have a kazillion! LOL I don't think they get too wet though, they drain really well, and actually are the nicest stand I have of any Iris. They have multiplied and bloom like crazy! Thanks again! When they start blooming and I can get a look into the working parts of the flowers I am sure I will have more questions...I will be sure to ask!

Janet,

One of the recommendations that is made to help avoid rotting of developing pods is to carefully remove the spathes and leaves from the stalk once the pod starts developing so that the stalk is completely smooth and naked aside from the pod itself. That way there is nothing on the stalk that can trap and hold moisture against it and cause it to rot.

Laurie