Favorite beardless iris to start a new addiction

Hi
I was so excited to find the number of spectacular beardless iris on Boojum's thread, I printed out my order form for Joe Pye Weed's Garden, and was paralyzed by the number of choices.

Here is my area to plant.

I have Caesar's Brother, about 100,000 Ruffled Navy that I have been ripping and tossing because they're everywhere, and some Butter and Sugar. I had no idea there were so many others.

What are some favorites for hardiness and visibility from a distance? And maybe for height or do they all range the same? I know my CB is quite tall.

Are there any that like water's edge?

I love the peachy tones of some of them. I need to add some non invasive shrubbery too. DH is in charge of the water plants. What types of things do you include around your beardless for contrast?

Thanks for any advice. I'm headed back to study the pictures!!

Why are you tossing the navy ruffled iris? You can trade them for other varieties. I would be happy to send you a clump of Rising Sun yellow beardless iris for some of yours. I also have pink water lilies, mme. Winfron Gonnere. Can you post a picture of them?

You should check out the thread on Hostas in your pond. You'll love it.

This message was edited Jun 11, 2008 4:24 PM

Siberian irises will like the waters edge. Just make sure they are not in standing water at freeze time.

Regarding the best cultivars, there are so many different ones. All the sibs should be hardy for you, especially if Caesars Brother and Butter and Sugar do well. I have never heard of a cultivar Ruffled Navy.

They range in heights from 6" to around 4'. The taller ones can be real standouts. A big difference, and this is up to individual preference, is if the flowers stand tall above the leaves, or just above the leaves. Colors now include pink, white, yellow, lavender, lt. blue, dark blue and purples. Some have speckles. Joe Pye Weed Garden now has one that is almost red.

I think ornamental grasses might be a nice go with for that area. Here's Coronation Anthem with a nepeta and an ornamental grass.

So glad you dropped by, Polly. Knew one of the experts would have good info to share. I have ribbon grass and never thought to plant with the sibs. I'll take some I have in a bucket and plant down with Caesar's Brother and Lavender Light. Thank you.

Thanks Polly. Maybe it's ruffled velvet? I don't know I'll have to look it up.

I found my "Steve" too - he's blooming right now. I bought him years ago because that's my son's name. I think he would look good with ribbon grass, which I have some of too.

I wondered about nepeta- I really love the look but thought it needed dry sandy soil -by the pond is a lot of clay although I'll put plenty of topsoil and peat to amend. A thought, hey - I could put sand there if I had to.

The main thing is being overwhelmed by so much empty space, and not enough time to look up every little thing.

I think I will order from Joe Pye Weed and get a start on growing some clumps. If anyone has pictures of groupings to share, and combinations, I will appreciate it. I'll keep searching back threads too.

Thanks!

The grass I have in the pic is Calamagrostis Overdam. Ribbon Grass might be a little too aggressive for the siberian irises.

I have nepetas all over with my sibs. They seem to be able to take the same amount of water. I think they are pretty flexible, can take dry or quite a bit of water. If in doubt nepeta subsessilis requires quite a bit of water. I think Bluestone carries it.

You will like buying from Joe Pye Weed. Great people.