Can foliage color predict bloom color?

Hello,

Here's to hoping I haven't been fibbing to Mom, but I
was under the impression that a strong streak of purple
at the base of the foliage meant the bloom would likely
be purple.

Am I mistaken?

I also tend to think (though perhaps incorrectly) that
a light or white color at the base might indicate white
or yellow?

I'm a bit puzzled about this, because some of my foliage
is very white, some is mostly green, and yet some are
colored quite a bit in blue / purple. I have many different
colors, but only recently began paying attention to the
streaks at the base of the foliage.

Am I crazy or is there a chance this might apply?

Karen Marie

You're not crazy, you're just uninformed. The color(s) of the leaves in no way indicate the colors of the blooms.

Laurie

Ah, thank you Laurie.

Does the color indicate anything at all? No doubt the
Iris I have are all very very old, as they came from various
sources such as old homesteads where the previous occupants
passed long ago.

There is one white in particular which is huge, smells like a dream
and is as white as they come. I'm often curious as to a general name
for it, or at least a shot at getting close to using the proper botanical term.

Understandably, the old purple Iris everyone's grandmother grew was
likely what I have, though the name escapes me.

I noticed today many of them were budding, so I'm so excited again!

KM

There are quite a few irises, both modern and historic, with PBF (purple-based foliage). I have a list of some of them on my website, and you can find another list of historic PBF irises on the old HIPS website at:

http://www.worldiris.com/public_html/Frame_pages/Purple.html

As far as I know, PBF doesn't indicate anything other than a certain set of genetic traits that expresses purple pigment in the leaf bases.

You are so fortunate to have irises budding already. I'm still waiting for the last of the snow and ice to melt from my beds.

Laurie

Laurie,

Many thanks for the response and the link, too.
I'll surf it to see if I can find anything about the old
white Iris.

Today I helped my mother dig up an old patch of Iris
that appears to have never been separated. It was huge!
A good rain last night, and a pitchfork, and those suckers
lifted right out. We quickly transplanted them and she
gave me a huge box full.

When I arrived home and told hubby, he said "Oh no,
no more iris!"

Of course, he does realize that husbands
can say no, but it doesn't do any good.

I stood there and gave him a strange look and said "Honey,
one can never have too many iris!" With that, I quickly proceeded
to plant them. Anywhere I could find a space. LOL

Written like a happy victim of the iris virus. ;-)

Laurie