Iris Mystery

I need help with an Iris ID. This little iris popped up in my garden yesterday. It is a cream to yellow color with reddish, brownish veining on either sides of the yellow beard. It is a small flower compared to my other iris and stands about 21-22 inches in height.

I have no idea where this iris came from. It is in an area of my garden where I haven't planted anything new and two years ago I divided the irises there and replanted. Both of the iris in this area look nothing like this one. Can anyone help me Id this one? Maybe this would help solve my mystery.

Here's another picture.

The petals on that iris, particularly the standards, look rather misshapen. That, coupled with the pale yellow color, makes me wonder if perhaps it didn't fall victim to herbicide poisoning. Any possibility that you or a neighbor sprayed RoundUp or similar in an area where this iris may have been directly contacted or picked up some drift? If so, it will be impossible to ID this iris until next year when it can bloom normally and show you its accurate color and form.

Laurie

That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw the picture...

Well my neighbor doesn't spray round up! (I sometimes wish they would). I did spray some earlier in the year up against the fence just to fend off all the neighbor's weeds. However, I don't typically spray in this area because my iris here are so close to the fence that I don't want to hit them. I guess there is a possibility that if there was a slight breeze (and I don't remember if there was) it could have caught some from another area of the garden. Also the type of Round up I use comes out in a foam. I use it because there is very little drift. Of course, any thing is possible.

Well there are buds on other iris all around this one so I will wait to see when they open if were affected as well. I will mark this iris anyway so I will see if it comes up different next year.

Will herbicide poisoning change the color of the flower as well? I don't have anything that remotely resembles these color combos in the garden. Just curious now.

Thanks for the possible cause.

Yes, herbicide poisoning will bleach and lighten a bloom. If the plant picks up enough herbicide, the blooms will turn either white or yellow, and the petals are often deformed. I have seen dark purple irises turn white after being hit with RoundUp.

If this iris was subjected to herbicide, you won't know what color the bloom really is until it has a chance to bloom next year ... assuming it doesn't get hit with herbicide again then.