Marking iris for later reference

In the late fall of 2005 I planted about 200 rhizomes that someone at work was giving away. My co-worker said they were in the same spot over 25 years, so I assume they're historics or old homestead ones or something. Anyway, she just dug and dumped into a bag that I got with no color labels or anything. She said they were mostly purple, lavender, white, yellow and maybe some maroon.

I stuck them in the orphan bed to see what color they turned out to be, thinking I'd move them to good spots later. Because it was so late in 2005, I had no blooms in 2006 naturally, but this year the budding has started.

How can I mark them so later this year when I move them I know what color they were? Someone (non-gardener) suggested tying different colored yarn around some leaves. Can I write on the leaves? If so, what I can write on them with that will withstand another couple months outside?

Thanks for your ideas, experience, suggestions.

Writing on leaves will weather with time.

I have diff. coloured venetian blinds and use them for colour coding. Or, if you cant do that. cut labels from diff. coloured plastic containers, red, clear, white etc andthen write down somewhere SAFE, what each colour label is.

Plus, when I plant named varieties, I always put a label with the name under the plant so when the clump is eventually dug up and divided, you can find the name then, if the above ground label has migrated somewhere.

My 2 cents.
inanda

Don't bother with yarn. The birds will steal it for their nests. You can write on leaves, but as inanda mentioned, the writing will fade in the sun. I use cut up venetian blinds as plant labels, and I write the name or color of the plant on BOTH ends of the marker. That way if the topside breaks off or fades in the sun, the underground portion will still be next to the plant and legible.

Laurie

Thank you both. I had the sneaking feeling the yarn idea wasn't good. Besides, I don't have any. I'll use a marker to stick in the ground like you suggested, and be sure to keep the "key" somewhere where I can find it in the house.

How about using the blinds, punch a hole in the end with a hole punch and then use twist ties or whatever to tie it to the iris.

Lana

I use contractor's version sharpie marker and make a notation on the central most leaf near the base. It usually keeps one or two months until I can transplant. However, if for the long term, I follow laurief's suggestion.