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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Name This Iris?

For eighteen years strap foliage grew in an odd spot: close to a boxwood shrub and beneath a white pine tree, but it never bloomed. I kept watching it, and wondered what it was: Iris? Camassia? The foliage grows about 30 inches tall.

Last year it bloomed for the first time and it was beautiful. It is an unusual blue.


Is this a Siberian Iris???
Does anyone recognize it?
Does anyone know anything about it?

I will post all three photos, because I don't know which will look best to you for identifying.




21 comments:

tina said...

I am no iris expert but it looks like either iris reticula or siberian iris? Not bearded. I see these at garden club in flower arrangements. They are lovely. Nice pics.

Frances, said...

It might be a dutch iris. My daughter has those and they are blooming now, same form.

Double Danger said...

Looks like you have the same issue we are having... if you have time come over to Double Danger and see if you can identify this plant we have NO CLUE what is.

Barbee' said...

Tina and Frances, I surely do appreciate your looking at this post and leaving your thoughts.

To narrow it down... as I wrote the foliage is about 30 inches; do Iris reticulata get that tall? Mine are only about 10 inches and the foliage looks like knitting needles, not straps. I guess I could Google I. reticulata and see.

I never thought about Dutch iris. I'm really curious about that, but will repress the urge to dig it up to see if it is a bulb or a rhizome under there.

I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. When it bloomed last year for the first time, I requested husband/best friend/chief photographer get the camera and take its picture. It is just one plant. But I showed all the snaps he took in hopes of making it easy for someone to recognize.

It is still too early here in zone 6a, so iris haven't bloomed here yet this spring. I am interested to see if it blooms this year. The blossom is a delicate looking beauty. I don't plan to move the plant for fear it will not survive. Though I probably should clear the English ivy from around it.

Barbee' said...

Everyone, James needs your help. I was no help to him. Go to his blog
Double Danger

Phillip Oliver said...

I think it is Dutch Iris.

Barbee' said...

I hope it is a Dutch iris. I've never had one of those - well, unless that is what this is, in which case, I had it and didn't know I did.

Thank you, Phillip.

Jane O' said...

I think it is Dutch Iris. I know that I usually have trouble with Siberian Iris and Japanese Iris, until I found out that the Japanese Iris leaf is flat and the Siberian Iris has a ridge on the back of the leaf. Run your hand up a blade and you can feel if it is there.

Barbee' said...

Jane Marie, that information is gold! Thank you so much. Of course if it is a Dutch it also will be smooth? I need to check and see if it came up this spring.

I don't know how many times I have crooned to the most beautiful plant of the season and told it, "You are the most beautiful thing on the place." Then, they always die. Afraid I whispered sweet things to it when it bloomed so elegantly.

Anonymous said...

The flower is very similar to a Siberian Iris I have but the foilage doesnt seem as abundant

Barbee' said...

That's true, there isn't much foliage. Maybe it is because of all the competition it has with the box wood, the ivy, the pine, etc.? Interesting comment, Patientgardener.

Amy said...

I wish I could help you Barbee. I love Iris but I know almost nothing about identifying them. Just wanted to say that it is a stunner! How lucky you are that you let it be and after all this time it finally bloomed!

Anonymous said...

Looks like Dutch iris to me, too. They come in a variety of colors.

Barbee' said...

Amy, I agree. I tend to leave plants be until I figure out what they are. Boy, has that been a mistake more than once. But this time, I knew it would be something nice if it could ever bloom - and it was.

mss, I think the majority of readers agree with you. Also, I followed your link and read that whole post and comments. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Sorry, I can't help you either. I love the colors though. Such a lovely little plant. I've never really been able to grow irises (or any kind of bulbs other than tulips) because the animals gobble them up when I'm not looking. Nasty critters!

Missa said...

Barbee, I have literally dozens of siberians; I am not sure what you have but it is NOT siberian,..... Looks like the dutch in my mom's yard, though.

Jared said...

I have a stand of Siberian iris and the flowers are similar, but this foliage looks different than mine (which is floppier when it all comes in). What a beautiful color!

Dave said...

It's a nice looking iris! I agree with what several others have said and classify it as a dutch iris.

Barbee' said...

I think you have all convinced me that it is a Dutch. That is the one I had never thought of. Now see how I needed your help. A big THANK YOU all around for your help and for comments about your own experiences whether you had irises or not, even if you had no idea. It was so fun to hear from you.

Future Readers, jump in and join the fun.

Anonymous said...

Not sure what this is but it sure is lovely.

By the way, thanks for visiting my blog today. Nice to "meet" you!

Marie said...

What a beautiful iris! I don't know the name of it.