Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Iris => Topic started by: David Nicholson on January 10, 2008, 04:36:47 PM
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Not sure if this should be here or whether I should have started a new thread??
Yes, let's have a page for I. reticulata and forms. M
Here is the first of my Iris reticulas to flower this season in my new bulb bed-Iris reticulata Gordon. Photo taken today quite late in the afternoon after the day's storms has passed Eastwards.
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David,
quite advanced blossom your iris reticulata. My ones in the open garden are still sleepy and nothing is visible. It's pity the blossom of this speci is quite short.
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David,
quite advanced blossom your iris reticulata. My ones in the open garden are still sleepy and nothing is visible. It's pity the blossom of this speci is quite short.
Armin, all of my retics. were planted on the same day but I would say that the others are at least 2 weeks behind 'Gordon'.
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Always great to see som ret's David - nice blue too.
You're
Mine are'nt even thinking of flowering yet - I hope they haven't been drowned after all the rain we had and still have.
I'm sure your new bulb bed will give you lots of pleasure.
Look forward to seeing more of it !
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Thanks Luc. I have some Iris danfordiae in the same bed that are only just beginning to show through the gravel, and I thought these were always thr first to flower.
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Personally, I think it would be worthwhile starting a dedicated Iris reticulata page, as there are a lot of us that grow them and it would be nice to have them all together?
So that's what I've done! M
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Thanks Maggi!! Your blood is worth bottling!! If I could send you Chocolate easily (see posting elsewhere for reasons I can't) I would. Thanks!! 8)
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You are most welcome, Paul . And virtual chocolate is almost as good as the real thing, on account of the kind thought :-*
Not much sign of any retic Irises here... bright enough today, but pretty cold and dampish.... should have bought some for pots. Tsk :-\
Hang on, maybe I DO have some in pots... too cold to go out to look now... see if I remember tomorrow ???
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... see if I remember tomorrow ???
Maggi,
Yeah, chocolate hangovers will do that!! ;D
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Well, I've been out to search and no, I haven't any potted up.
Garden frozen... earliest signs of any Iris are of Iris Katherine Hodgkin are 12mm (half an inch) noses, bravely showing in sunniest part of garden!
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My first Iris in this year,
Iris vartanii from Israel
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Udo, is Iris vartanii always so pale?
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My first Iris in this year,
Iris vartanii from Israel
Good to have you back posting Dirk and with exceptional plants as usual.
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Maggi,
this is my first flower from this species. :-*
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It's a beauty Udo, or is it Dirk ? It makes us want to see more !!!! 8)
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First reticulata Gordon
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Udo, is Iris vartanii always so pale?
Maggi & Dirk,
some 20 years ago I also grew I. vartanii ,collected in Israel & sent to me by Brian Mathew which was a darker blue, with a slight greyish tone. I grew it for a number of years ,but then it went to heaven, as did the albino form. Is the white one still grown & available commercially? It never seemed robust here.
Ciao Otto.
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Various reticulata types are now in flower - as with much else, responding to warmth. At least the display is not spoiled by the dull warm weather like the crocuses are.
Here 2 forms if Iris histrio.
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just remembered another reference and photo of Iris vartanii by Erich Pasche [of Crocus fame ]in The Bulletin of the Alpine Garden Soc. vol.66 No.3 -Sep. 1998-on page 278-
a rather beautyful pale blue.
Otto.
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I. hist 2 is a real stunner Tony ! :o
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Lovely Iris histrio Tony.
Im getting a bit worried about some of mine. I have histrio var. aintabensis, reticulata bakeriana and winowgradowii in the greenhouse all of which aren't showing above the grit yet. From potting until just before Christmas I had them outside and am wondering if they got too wet and have rotted off. Too early to tip them out and have a look I suppose??
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Hi David - I would hold my breath for another week or two if I were you, perhaps light a candle.... but it surely doesn't look promising. :-\
I have a potful of I. K. Hodgekin that underwent the same treatment (outside until mid December and then inside) in full flower right now, I hope to post a pic tonight.
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Hi David - I would hold my breath for another week or two if I were you, perhaps light a candle.... but it surely doesn't look promising. :-\
I have a potful of I. K. Hodgekin that underwent the same treatment (outside until mid December and then inside) in full flower right now, I hope to post a pic tonight.
Hi Luc, candles will be lit, one for each year of my age, so, if you see a soft glow in the North Western sky tonight you will know what it is!! My Katharine Hodgkin in the greenhouse (that were also outside until Christmas time) are doing quite well but are perhaps a couple of weeks away from a picture stage but the ones in the garden may be ready next week (now I've said that what's the betting that the slugs have a feast!).
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Just a few pictures from the garden today taken in a brief respite from the thin but heavy drizzle we have had all day so far.
The first two are Iris danfordiae, still a little immature, but pretty none the less. I bought a batch of 10 bulbs and have 5 flowering, par for the course for this awkward variety I suppose? The other one is Iris histrioides Angel Tears which I think is very nice.
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Looking good David - this time it's mine that are way behind.
My I. ret. Angels tears aren't showing anything above ground level so far... should I be the one to worry now ?? ???
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Here's my pot of I. histrioides 'Katharine Hodgkin' - in the garden, no sign of them yet.
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my pot of iris histrio
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Now I am worried about mine not showing yet.
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Now I am worried about mine not showing yet.
Don't panic, David, sit down and have some wensleydale and cake... you know it makes sense.
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Various reticulata types are now in flower - as with much else, responding to warmth. At least the display is not spoiled by the dull warm weather like the crocuses are.
Here 2 forms if Iris histrio.
Wow! What beautiful markings an the 2nd. picture, Tony!
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Now I am worried about mine not showing yet.
Don't panic, David, sit down and have some wensleydale and cake... you know it makes sense.
Can't do with cheese at this time of night Maggi (it's an age and digestion thing!) BUT I am popping out for a quick pint. Night Night
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my first Iris reticulata in this year,
a form from Iran, growing in higher altitute ( around 2300m )
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That is a pretty one, Dirk.
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Nice day today with a bit of sunshine for a change, and chance to take a few pix.
The first couple showing Iris reticulata J S Dijt in the bulb bed-I like the nice strong colour. The third is I. retic. Pauline, again a nice strong colour, brought into the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago. The final ones are Katharine Hodgkin, again brought into the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago and about a week in front of those in the bulb bed. I always find her colour a bit wishy-washy, maybe I don't grow her well!!
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I always find her colour a bit wishy-washy, maybe I don't grow her well!!
No, David, bless her, she always looks like that!
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I wouldn't call her wishy-washy David - maybe "modest" sounds better ;)
Anyway, wishwashy would be better than tatty... ;D
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OK Luc, I will go for 'modest' ;D
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this is a tiny reticulata collected in Iran by JJMZ and I wonder if it is the same collection as Dirks
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this is a tiny reticulata collected in Iran by JJMZ and I wonder if it is the same collection as Dirks
Did you grow it from seed Tony, and is the seed available in the market place?
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Dry again today (two days running-this must be a record!) so a chance to take a couple more pictures.
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Now there is a coincidence...... this week I ordered mail order an iris retic called 'Edward', never having heard of one by that name before anywhere in my travels. And here we have a picture provided by David. Thanks for anticipating my need to find out what it was like. Looks rather similar to some other varieties doesn't it?
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Now there is a coincidence...... this week I ordered mail order an iris retic called 'Edward', never having heard of one by that name before anywhere in my travels. And here we have a picture provided by David. Thanks for anticipating my need to find out what it was like. Looks rather similar to some other varieties doesn't it?
Paul, it's just a gift I have, should have been a fortune teller ;D
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Ah, but if you really WERE supposed to be a fortune teller then you would have KNOWN that and become one. The fact that you didn't means that you didn't know for sure that you should have been, so therefore you couldn't have. Clear as mud now?
Thanks for the excellent timing of the pic, regardless of fortune teller possibilities or not!! ;D
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Paul, I'm different though. I'm a procrastinating fortune teller 8)
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David - Cantab should be 'Cambridge Blue' ie light blue ... your pics appear to be more Oxford than Cambridge. Perhaps it is just a trick of the light and the camera but it should be really quite pale, quite different to the other one you showed us in the same post. Sadly although I once grew it I do not have a digi-pic to post.
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David - Cantab should be 'Cambridge Blue' ie light blue ... your pics appear to be more Oxford than Cambridge. Perhaps it is just a trick of the light and the camera but it should be really quite pale, quite different to the other one you showed us in the same post. Sadly although I once grew it I do not have a digi-pic to post.
Tony, it is lighter than it looks in the picture but it was fairly dull outside when I took it. I will try to get another picture posted.
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Tony G, managed to take a few more pictures today. Not sure if these are any better than the previous ones I posted so have to blame the photographer rather than the camera. I haven't mastered using independent settings so I have to rely on the in-built ones to do the job. Certainly, to the eye, Iris retic. Cantab is a lot lighter than I. retic Edward and both are shown below again. Also shown is Iris histrioides Katharine Hodgkin.
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my first Iris reticulata in this year,
a form from Iran, growing in higher altitute ( around 2300m )
Hallo Dirk,
this one is a real beauti. Interesting markings.
brgds
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David,
nice pictures. Mine reticulatas are still underground.
I hope for more sunshine.
P.S. Be insured you are not the only Digicam photographer with setting problems!
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this is a tiny reticulata collected in Iran by JJMZ and I wonder if it is the same collection as Dirks
Did you grow it from seed Tony, and is the seed available in the market place?
No I did not grow it from seed I got it as some rice grain offsets. I do not know if the original came from seed or also as rice grains. I have seen it in the wild in E Turkey and it often has these rice grains lying on the surface where they have been grubbed up by animals.
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Tony W - that JJMZ form is a beaut!!
David - yes, that is much more like it, sometimes our cameras deceive us :)
Below are a couple of mine.
First one that came as Iris bakeriana .... from the same source as my Crocus not cvijicii. I wonder if this is 'Clairette' a pretty hybrid with some bakeriana in its blood. Post your answers here please!)
Second Iris hyrcana - mixed forms from Dirk. Please can someone in the know tell me if Iris hyrcana is anything other than a small Iris reticultata (and some of those are small anyway.)
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Tony W - that JJMZ form is a beaut!!
David - yes, that is much more like it, sometimes our cameras deceive us :)
Below are a couple of mine.
First one that came as Iris bakeriana .... from the same source as my Crocus not cvijicii. I wonder if this is 'Clairette' a pretty hybrid with some bakeriana in its blood. Post your answers here please!)
Second Iris hyrcana - mixed forms from Dirk. Please can someone in the know tell me if Iris hyrcana is anything other than a small Iris reticultata (and some of those are small anyway.)
I have Iris bakeriana from the same source. They haven't shown yet so I may have lost them.
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I have Clairette (or at least I think I do!!) will try to get a picture tomorrow to compare with Tony G's ?bakeriana?.
In the meantime a pic below of Iris retic. Harmony
Having expressed concerns about the no show of my Iris bakeriana, and not being prepared to wait any longer, I tipped them out today and sure enough all three had rotted. The same fate also applied to winogradowii x 1 and Kuh-e-Abr x 3. Lessons for me to learn there. My climate is obviously too wet to risk them outside in pots (I had brought them into the greenhouse around Christmas time) or maybe my potting mix wasn't as fast draining as I thought. My signature line is obviously very apt! :( :(
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Harmony 's a real nice one David - Too bad you lost Wino and Kuh-e-abr - (lots) more sand in the mix next time ??
I have my Winogradowii outside in the garden and after all the wetness we had over the last months I will be quite relieved when heads show up... :-\
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Iris Histriodes Major I hope bulking up slowly under cover
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Iris Histriodes Major I hope bulking up slowly under cover
Wise man Ian 8)
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Am I going mad or is there a bit of a mix-up in the trade between Iris reticulata and Iris histrioides? :-\
Here is a picture from last year of iris histrioides in Franzs Garden. I really shoud go away and look up exactly what the differences are .... from memory one is that I histrioides flowers before the leaves appear while I reticulata flowers with leaves.
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Isn't 'Clairette' a two-tone pale blue variety, without such dark falls?
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Quote from the old forum by Gote Svanholm 2006
Bakeriana has leaves that are octogonal in cross section most others are square.
Danfordie has next to no standards. Just little bristles. Wionogradowii has normal standards. These two are the yellow ones.
Histrioides is supposed to show the flowers with or before the leaves.
Histrio: Leaves earlier than the flower.
Vartanii: Bulbs pointed. Perhaps a var of Histrio. Leaves earlier.
Kolpawowskiana Crocus-like leaves unlike the others.
He also reccommends Rafa's web site for Iris info ... I'm off there now!
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Thanks for quoting that Tony, I hadn't read it before. Now I'm off to Rafa's Web Site too.
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Tony G, did you find Rafa's Web Site-I couldn't. If you did would you please post a Link.
Here is your Iris bakeriana/Clairette (if I've done it right!!) and my 'bought as' Clairette pictured today.
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Hmm David - my plants seem to have more than four sides to the leaves. This suggests that it might be true I bakeriana. Do yours have four sided leaves?? The colours look quite different .... I am happy that my pic is very close to what my eye sees, how about yours?
Have not found Rafas site yet!
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RAFA! We need help! I'm sure Rafa used to have his web pages shown in his signature and the other day there was CERTAINLY a website url shown in one of his posts but now I cannot find it at all! HELP!
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Hmm David - my plants seem to have more than four sides to the leaves. This suggests that it might be true I bakeriana. Do yours have four sided leaves?? The colours look quite different .... I am happy that my pic is very close to what my eye sees, how about yours?
Have not found Rafas site yet!
Tony, as far as colour is concerned my pic of Clairette is pretty true (my wife says I'm not noted for my colour sense!); and the leaves are square(ish).
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Iris hyrcana - I intended to take ours to a local group talk, unfortunatly cancelled, and did a little research beforehand. The botanists seem to be undecided as to whether it is a form of reticulata or not. In Buried Treasures (p.138) Janis prefers the 'separate species' option as in the wild the two bulbs grow in different localities, reticulata grows individually whilst hyrcana grows in clumps and, in the garden, reticulata starts flowering just as hyrcana is dying off.
This seems to be the best argued opinion that I can find. Thank goodness I did not pick botany as a career.
Our bulbs also came from Dirk and they are great.
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Interesting David. I didn't think of looking in 'Buried Treasures' but I will do now.
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Then you and I do not have the same thing David. Mine might be the true I bakeriana I suppose :-\
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Then you and I do not have the same thing David. Mine might be the true I bakeriana I suppose :-\
Could be!! ???
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Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute!!! ;D are you talking about me? the same Rafa from Spain? HAHAHAH
I don't have any website, I have signed some time ago, with the url from a art gallery for which I used to work last year.
Also I also post pictures in these webs:
http://www.treknature.com/members/Rafa/
http://www.badbear.com/signa/signa.pl?Search
http://www.infojardin.com/galeria/showgallery.php?ppuser=2630&cat=500
And I am bulding a Myspace website where I am uploading my paints, sculptures and soon botanical watercolours plates.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=40059659
But I am afraid that this is all that I have... I hope you are not too disappointed ::) ;D
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Hello Rafa,
Yes, I remember the links to your art and gallery but we all thought the other day that you had made a lurl to a plant website which we assumed was yours! It must have nbeen one of these you show now. Thank you for helping us out of our muddle!
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Howdy All,
Now that I've found out that what I thought was Clairette isn't.... can anyone tell me what this one is? I do have the correct version of Clairette except I thought that IT was the mislabelled one, not this one. I just love this retic so would very much like a name to go with it if anyone can provide it. Lovely pale blue. Any ideas? I figure this is the spot to post it as you are all having your retics flower at the moment so it is an ideal time for comparisons.
Thanks in anticipation.
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Paul, I believe your Iris ret. is 'Cantab'... see also some discussion about a NON Cantab on page three!
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Maggi,
If David's IS Cantab (Yes, I saw the pic of page 4 showing it in better light) then I don't think mine is the same thing. There is definitely no way I could produce a photo of mine that looked like the darker one of Davids.... the colour just isn't strong enough for a camera to interpret it that way. The contrasts between the standards and falls on David's are bigger than in my unknown. What exactly is "Cambridge Blue"?
No, I'm not just trying to be difficult, just wanting to make sure it IS the name I put on it this time!! ;D
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No, No, Paul, the point is that David's is NOT Cantab ! Cambridge Blue is the pale clear blue colour that is associated with Cambridge Universitykits.... Rowing Team etc.
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Fair enough, I thought that the second photo was paler and that it had confirmed it was correct. Mine is definitely a good pale ble. I've never had Cantab so not surprising I wouldn't have recognised it! ;D
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Right, on rechecking I see that Tony G. thought that David's next photo "looked more like Cantab"... but I think it has too much colour and yours is correct!
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So.... Tony...... what do you think mine is?
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Looks like a nicely made pale Iris reticulata. I'm not expert on all the trade named forms though ... this all started because I was not sure of my Iris bakeriana. Now I think I might have the real thing but I'd like to grow the true 'Clairette' again (I did have it about 10 years ago) for comparison.
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Paul, I will send a larger picture (1024 x 768) of my Cantab to your private Email address will you send me one of your 'not sure' of the same size to mine? It may be easier to compare that way.
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Tony
I have what is said to be a wild collected (NOT BY ME) bakeriana that looks like it will flower soon for the first time and I will post a picture when it does so you can look at it for comparison
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David,
I've sent you two different views. Both are closeups. Hopefully if yours are still out you can get a good idea of whether they are the same or not. I think from comparing your pic to mine that mine is somewhat paler..... there's just not the colour saturation that yours seems to have, particularly in the falls. BUT, in person is much easier than from pictures of course.
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Here is Iris winogradowii. This plant had not flowered for 3 years but had bulked up. I moved 3 of the 4 bulbs to a new home and hey presto they are all flowering - all 4 so am beginning to think it may have been the the right place in the first place.
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Here is Iris winogradowii. This plant had not flowered for 3 years but had bulked up. I moved 3 of the 4 bulbs to a new home and hey presto they are all flowering - all 4 so am beginning to think it may have been the the right place in the first place.
Very nice Ian. Now I can see what I missed after mine rotted off.
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It's cold outside but Katharine Hodgkin do not seem to mind.
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Maggi once told me they were as tough as old boots, and they really are!
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I think she looks quite sweet poking through the snow 8)
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To day iris histrioides Lady Beatrix Stanley
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Your LBS looks nice Dominique.
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We like to grow some of the reticulata type iris in pots so that we can actually enjoy them in some comfort rather than battle the wind and rain in the garden.
Firstly a group 'flowering now'. Iris danfordiae at the back with 'hyrcana', 'Lady Beatrix Stanley, and 'Frank Elder'.
Iris Frank Elder
Into the windswept garden to look at 'George' just starting to flower and then one that I have lost the label for! Mark, I think I gave you the name of this Iris after Early Bulbs last year. Do you remember it?
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David, could be J S Dijt, here's mine for comparison?
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"24 January on your picture, David; our JS Dijt is in the bulb house and will not flower for week or two yet! But no, the iris shown in a much darker, reddish purple. Thanks for the suggestion.
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One more suggestion
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Might it be 'Pixie' ??
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'Pauline' is possible, I will have to check around to see if it is located elsewhere in the garden; I have not purchsed 'Pixie' yet so I will discount that, Maggie.
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The begin of Gordon !
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After sending other larger pics to David N for comparison to his plant.... my unknown blue is somewhat paler than his 'Cantab', so if that's 'Cantab' then mine isn't! Any other ideas as to identity anyone?
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After seeing David's and Dominiques pictures - I'm putting I. ret. "Gordon" on my wants list ! ;)
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Thought you might like to see this Iris photographed in situ in Iran on Kuhe Sabalan
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Another Iris in situ in Iran
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The first picture shows a real stunner Art !
Beautiful !!!! :o
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Very fine plants Arthur. Thank you
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Nice ones Arthur.
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More Iran pics please Art - I'm sure you took more than two! Did you see crocus there?
Best wishes
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Thought you might like to see this Iris photographed in situ in Iran on Kuhe Sabalan
Art, very nice form - with very long and wide honey markings!
Please show us more.
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I took many more reticulate Irises on slide than digital, so, until I scan them in, I have decided to start a new thread 'Irises of Iran' I hope you will like them
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Tony
We were not fortunate to see Crocus in full bloom. Hoping on this year's trip to see michelsonii and almehensis. Only taking digital cameras this time, with a dedicated macro lens.
Arthur
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We were lucky to find the Iris with these'hoovers' about.
2 more reticulate irises from Kuhe Sabalan - probably at 2,300m
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Here are a couple of pics of some of Alan McMurtie Iris reticulata hybs mentioned on the Juno thread. I bought them from Janis Ruksans a few years ago and they are doing well and multiplying. They seemed a bit small and delicate when I first got them but this year they seem stronger and the flowers more robust. The pictures are taken last year as although they have been flowering for 3 weeks there hasn't been a day suitable for getting the camera out.
Iris Evening Twilight and Summers Day.
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Susan
Nice irises - particularly like Summers Day
I am trying the long game. Bought seed from Alan McMurtrie in 2006 - only one germinated, I think because we had a very mild winter. This year I am delighted to see half the pots with germination - some like mustard & cress.
Only a few more years to wait.
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We were lucky to find the Iris with these'hoovers' about.
2 more reticulate irises from Kuhe Sabalan - probably at 2,300m
I'm drooling-again!
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Susan
Nice irises - particularly like Summers Day
I am trying the long game. Bought seed from Alan McMurtrie in 2006 - only one germinated, I think because we had a very mild winter. This year I am delighted to see half the pots with germination - some like mustard & cress.
Only a few more years to wait.
Susan, have you enough to put in the catalogue yet?
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Summers day looks very good Susan - even in mid Winter ! ;D
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Arthur,
I am sure the seedlings will be well worth the wait. At least you are ahead of me in that respect, I got as far as emailing about seed but never followed it up then lost the webpage until it was posted yesterday. This discussion has given me more incentive to get going and order some seed.
David,
they won't be in the catalogue this year I am afraid, maybe next as they are doing well but plenty of things can happen to them before then :D
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Strange the votes seem to be on Summer's Day, but Evening Twilight is the more unusual, with dark grey verging on black petals. Prehaps the picture doesn't do it justice.
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Actually, they are both very nice Susan - but sky blue does it to me.... every time again... ::)
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The form of the blue is very nice, but I wouldn't have thought that there was anything approaching black in the other one? Hopefully you're able to get us a pic this year? ;D
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Actually, they are both very nice Susan - but sky blue does it to me.... every time again... ::)
Luc, have you been watching Manchester City on Sky again! ;D
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Maybe it was Coventry City David - and on the Beeb - can't get Sky over here... ;)
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Maybe it was Coventry City David - and on the Beeb - can't get Sky over here... ;)
Couldn't have been Coventry City Luc, I would have heard your screams of pain! ;D
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I guess so - they're somewhere in the cellar of English football nowadays are'nt they ? ???
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Do you have any of the iris in pots, Susan? It would be great to see them in real life at Early Bulbs.
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David you want me to remember what I was told a year ago!
All my Clairettes died after flowering
That's a stunning selection of Iris on these pages. I'm going to have a look in Janis catalogue again
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David,
No, everything in my place lives outside. The only plants that I ever bring to show have been hauled out of the ground and stuck in a pot a couple of days before. I might see if there are any flowers worth picking but I susspect most will be over by the bulb day.
Mark, some of Janis's old catalogues have different Iris pictures
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Not a brilliant picture as it had to be photographed in the bulb house, but definitely one of my favourites.
Much finer than most reticulate irises
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Iris bakeriana from Iran
histrio var.aintabensis, dark form
histrioides var.sophenensis
my Iris-bed with many forms from reticulatas
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Super images Dirk....many thanks.
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Impressive Dirk ! Very impressive !!! :o
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Dirk, are you sure of the identifications ?
Has your bakeriana the eight-side leaves ?
Moreover, I'm surprised about your aintabensis : no yellow mark and falls are very tight...
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In the shot of your Iris bed, can you identify the iris just above the yellow (danfordiae?). Is it the bakeriana in your first shot?
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Arthur, that's a lovely little retic.
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Dirk, is your Iris bed open to the weather or under cover please?
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Arthur, that's a lovely little retic.
Yes, which is it, please?
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very nice selection, Dirk
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Very nice pics, guys.
Dirk, I'm impressed by how well you grow them in pots! They fail for me in pots but are better in the ground in this area.
cheers
fermi
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Maggi
I do not know. I collected some very small 'spawn' in Iran. Patience was rewarded with this elegant fragile flower, quite unlike the normal commercial reticulate irises. Somewhere I have a slide of the first time it flowered - I used it as my screen saver - will try to find and post it here.
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Great pics everyone. What wonderful retics. That growing bed with all the different types is just amazing. What a collection. Seeing the variation within the retics I really must try getting some seed at some point, just to see what the results are.
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Hello biodiversite,
this bakeriana has eight-side leave, or i have plants with similar flowers and four-side leave.
The dark form from I.histrio var.aintabensis growing from wild coll.seeds near Gaziantepe
in S-Turkey. I think, the name is correct.
David,
all my Reticulatas growing outside, sometimes ( winter and summer ) protection with
windows.
Arthur,
the yello Iris is a native form from danfordiae ( smaller as the hort. form ) The I.bakeriana
is right in the great foto.
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Dirk I think I have the same collection of bakeriana(I sent you an email on the subject) and mine has 8 sided leaves. I think we do not have to get to hung up on some of these identification points. The flora of turkey indicates it may have +/- eight sides and is only a form of reticulata. Similarly with aintabensis being a form of histrio. These as individual 'species' depend on where you sit on splitting and the variation in the wild is enormous.
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Just fantastic collection Dirk!!
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:o - Dirk and Rafa - impressive plants and pictures - never have seen a white I. winogradowii :o ::)
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Thank you Hans, the next first division is yours ;)
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:o :o :o - cannot believe it - I start to look for a good site for it 8)
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Indeed 8) 8) 8)
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Rafa
I was pleased to see my first winogradowii in flower today, but then I saw your white form. Were they selected from mass sowings or did you buy them?
I thought it was only Snowdrops that gave you a fever, but, having seen Dirk's collection and your white winogradowii, I am sure that it applies even more so to reticulate irises. And as an added bonus you can tell them apart.
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What really gives me fever, is your pictures from Iran!!!, but lets not get into mentioning other generas, because if we start talking about Narcissus, Gladiolus, Tigridia, Fritillaria, Crocus, Cypella.......and another cuple of thousands of generas I think I might end up like Don Quixote seeing huge Irises instead of windmills :o ??? ;D
This I. winogradowii comes from Janis.
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This I. winogradowii comes from Janis.
I hope it is still on his current List it's a beauty.
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Can I have some help in identifying these common garden reticulate iris. I do not like labels and splitting clumps to distribute round the garden makes it even more difficult.
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And 3 more please - the second photo is a close up of the first.
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Rafa
I am not sure why I cannot find my photos of Galanthus transcaucasica. To see huge populations just by the side of the road..... Must try and find then start a new thread under Galanthus.
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And 3 more please - the third photo is a close up of the first.
If it is Arthur it's changed colour!! ???
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This I. winogradowii comes from Janis.
I hope it is still on his current List it's a beauty.
I'm afraid it's not on this years list.
He listed it last year at 30 € and apparantly sold out...
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This I. winogradowii comes from Janis.
I hope it is still on his current List it's a beauty.
I'm afraid it's not on this years list.
He listed it last year at 30 € and apparantly sold out...
Probably as well Luc. This means the Nicholson household can continue to eat meat and buy gas for another year ;D
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:D :D :D
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Here's
I. hist. 'Kathrine Hodgkin' enjoying today's sunshine.
+
I. hist. 'Angel tears'... only one showing from 5 bulbs planted last year... >:(
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I. hist. 'Kathrine Hodgkin' enjoying today's sunshine.
Looking very good, for outside, Luc ;D ;D :-X
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Here we have only "fingers" pointing through the soil of Katharine Hodgkin.... for a long time we had only "noses" but in the last few days, we now have "fingers".... the longest 6cms amd not quite showing colours ......it will be a few days yet.......
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Today in my garden the first flowers of I. ret. Palm Springs.
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Is this a new variety, Luit? I do not know the name... it is very beautiful, so dark.
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Maggi, this one was found in I. ret. George. Interesting is that it was found at two different places.
Mr. Willem van Eeden (yes, winner of many good Crocus) suggested a name but there was already a name for the plant given by someone else.
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art - the purple one might be Pauline. The clear mid blue with short leaves Harmony?
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Luit
Where did you get Palm Springs. It is a stunner ;D
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Very nice Luit !
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Good Katherine Hodgkins Luc.
Has anyone any updates on the Katherine Hodgkins which came up darker blue last year. Are they the same this year, are they still surviving.
Susan
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Susan, could you show a picture what you mean?
Luit
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There were some pictures posted last year that had suspious looking flowers, I was wondering what had happened to them. I will try and look for the postings.
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The postings are on page 23 of the Iris pages
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And 3 more please - the third photo is a close up of the first.
If it is Arthur it's changed colour!! ???
David
Not yet expert at uploading photos and did not preview. Disappointed that I have no recommendations for names - except for 2 where TonyG has proposed names
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Art - Try checking the Connoisseurs Garden thread - lots of named forms illustrated there. However there are a lot that look very similar which may account for peoples reluctance to commit!
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The postings are on page 23 of the Iris pages
Sorry, but how do I find this page by number?
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Susan, can you post a link to the page.... I cannot find it either.... ???
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Aah, you meant page 3, I found what you mean. http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=143.30
I hope nobody gets angry with me, but those dark signs in the flowers could be so called flowervirus.
This K. Hodgkin is very easy infested.
I saw this Januari (page 9 in Flowering now) the same already but did not want to say it then.
But now when you ask me.... :(
Luit
Ps. The best thing is to remove infested plants or it is getting worse!
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I worry about virus as a cause of the stronger colouring in those Iris, too, Luit. I think we learned from Franz that his had occasionally made this stronger colour but were still strong in the plant, too, so perhaps it was not the case for him. But here, if we see this, we are immediately frightened and act to remove.
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On Garden Buddies there was a discussion on whether Frank Elder is really different from Katherine Hodgkin. I thought there was and took photos of mine in the garden - Frank Elder bloomed several days before Katherine Hodgkin.
Having looked at last year's thread and seen the deep coloured Katherine Hodgkin, I am confused.
I post below two views of Frank and then two views of Katherine. Are they really different?
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I think we learned from Franz that his had occasionally made this stronger colour but were still strong in the plant,
Maggi, I think it is still not known when an ill plant will get weaker in growth.
what I know is that there are many grown in trade which are infested. Sorry to say this but it is.
What I forgot to mention is that I found the page by the help of Luc.
Not strange when Dutch and Belgian cooperate.
Our two countries belong to the first six countries of the EU. So know how to make profit of this. :D :D :D
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Arthur, your pics 3 and 4 are definite ill.
Pict 1 is clearly ill. Could be all 4 K. Hodgkin.?
I post two pictures of both vars, which found in my PC, but no reference.
But at least you see the difference.
Luit
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Luit
Ifeared the worst from your comments. Trowel in hand I am going to dig them up.
The Frank Elder had been coming up for 3 years, but the Katherine Hodgkin were planted last year.
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I broke my own rules and bought this from a local garden centre because I hadn't previously heard of iris reticulata 'Alida'. When I got home I did a google and found that Kevock Gardens sell it but found nothing else on it. OK it's nothing special but at least the names different.
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My local garden centre had a display of Iris reticulata 'Alida', the leaves were very 'streaky' by which I assume they were virused.
Would this be the case? It has already been mentioned that Dutch stock is suspect.
afw
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Can't tell yet Alan, but time will tell!
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David
Have just Googled I.retic> Alida. Potterton now list it as a new introduction & if you go to www.gapphotos.com they show it too. Doesn't answer the virus question though.
Alan
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Hans quote :o - Dirk and Rafa - impressive plants and pictures - never have seen a white I. winogradowii :o ::)
Rafa, 2 very nice pictures of I. winogradowii forma alba -but is it really the white form ? I think it is a hybrid with another ret. ,but which one? note the narrower falls, also the faint blue shading and spots on the falls. I grow it too ,and also got my bulb from Ruksans
ciao
Otto
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Hello Otto, Rafa,
Concerning I. winogradowii forma alba - I remember reading on the impressive site (don't remember on which page though ::)) from Allan Mcmurtrie that he also has very serious doubts about that form. He does not seem te believe it is pure winogradowii either...
???
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Hello Luc, Rafa and Otto,
it really seams to be a hybrid. I had a look at Ruksans 2007 catalogue - he mentions about his Iris winogradowii "Alba": "...Ì am afraid that this is some hybrid as I never got seeds of it...."
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Here are a three irises from today.
Iris-histrioides-major
Iris-histrioides Angel Tears
Iris-histrioides Angel Tears
Iris-histrioides Michael
Iris-histrioides Michael
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Franz you grow some good Iris reticulatas, and you take a good photograph too.
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First flower on Winogradowii
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Some other irises of the reticulata group
iris bakeriana
iris danfordiae
iris histrioides goerge
iris histrioides Major
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Iris histrioides Major
Iris reticulata Hercule
' ' Marquerite
' ' Palm Spring
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Franz, very nice pics. I have put some other pics in the page Iris. Sorry. For the end, Pixie and Spring Time
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Domininque, I have moved your other retic. iris pix here!
Also, moved, Michael's Iris winogradowii.
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Thank you Maggi, you are always here to put off our mistakes !!!
Glad to help . M ;) [color]
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Great show Franz, Michael and Dominique !
Thanks for posting ;)
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that really is a pristine winogradowii Michael.
Nice show Dominique apart from a couple in the greenhouse mine are all over for this year. You have some varieties I have not seen before.
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Beautiful iris images from everybody.
The winogradowii is very lovely - a nice pale primula yellow.
Mine in the garden are still sleepy... :-\
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So are mine Armin - no sign of life just yet - I'm getting slightly worried :-\
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Domininque, you have an interesting collection. Have you noticed our I. histrioides major are the same? My I. reticulata forms are still not in flower.
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some forms from Iris histrioides:
Major
Angel's Tears
Lady Beatrix Stanley
George
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Some Iris reticulata forms new to me this year
Iris Pixie a nice dark blue but it looks like something nibbled the flowers when in bud
Iris Kuh-e-Abr is quite nice, but supposed to be a unique blue in reticulata. I'm not sure it's so different from others. I was expecting it to be almost turquoise.
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After a frosty night this morning still in flower: Iris reticulata Halkis
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Andre
I like Halkis very much - did you grow from seed or buy it?
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Art I have bought it from Ruksans, would not know whether seed would be available.
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Art, 'Halkis' is offered this year by Potterton & last year was offered by Miniature Bulbs & Paul Christian. It was collected some years ago by Norman Stevens & the Dutch have since mass produced it. It is a very nice reticulata.
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I must get a collection of reticulatas.
None of my Natasha are up this year and that's worrying. I have/had about 30
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I must get a collection of reticulatas.
None of my Natasha are up this year and that's worrying. I have/had about 30
Bet they've rotted off like mine did :'(
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Some Iris reticulata forms new to me this year
Iris Pixie a nice dark blue but it looks like something nibbled the flowers when in bud
Iris Kuh-e-Abr is quite nice, but supposed to be a unique blue in reticulata. I'm not sure it's so different from others. I was expecting it to be almost turquoise.
Diane, Andrew showed a picture of his on the Iris page, February 13 2007 reply 117. It may be tricks of the light but his looks darker than yours? At least you got a flower, mine rotted off.
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Art, 'Halkis' is offered this year by Potterton & last year was offered by Miniature Bulbs & Paul Christian. It was collected some years ago by Norman Stevens & the Dutch have since mass produced it. It is a very nice reticulata.
Another one I have killed :'(
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Diane, Andrew showed a picture of his on the Iris page, February 13 2007 reply 117. It may be tricks of the light but his looks darker than yours? At least you got a flower, mine rotted off.
Just had a look at Andrews on http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=143.117
and I think his actually looks paler than mine (assuming the pic is below the text), but it looks like the sun is on his. Alan McMurtrie's picture does look like mine so I suppose it's the right thing
http://reticulatas.com/Pictures/Reticulatas/originals/Kuh-e-Abr%200002.JPG
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Unfortunately some 'Halkis' being supplied looks infected with virus:
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Some Iris new in the last days:
I.reticulata from Shemachi, low caucasus
I.sophenensis x danfordiae `Snowwhite`
a possibly new species in this section from Iran,
the flower standing of a short stem, 2 pictures
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Great show everyone !!!
Dirk - that possibly new species from Iran is a real stunner !!! :o
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All of these beautiful reticulate irises are raising expectations for the reticulate season here.
Here’s an image of a plant I have grown as Iris ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ since 2002. Does it appear to be true to name? To my eyes it looks like an Iris histrioides hybrid, yet the name ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ has been used for a form of Iris histrioides itself, hasn’t it?
Whatever it is, it’s a good doer here, and I’m glad to have it.
What say the experts: is my plant true to name?
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Dirk
Hope I see something as good as that Iranian 'new' species on my trip this year.
'Snowwhite' is so much nicer than 'Natascha' - hopefully it will be a lot stronger.
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Wow - which beauties are shown in this thread - I think I should give this small treasures some more space in my small garden...
@arthur, whish you good luck im Iran and hope to see some of your (suberb) fotos of this trip in the forum.
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Jim,
your plant is possibly true the name.
Lady Beatrix Stanley is a fertile selection from histrioides,
crosses with histrioides ( Harmony, George) are steril.
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Dirk, big iris show! :o
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Thanks, Dirk, that is reassuring.
Many years ago (35-40 years) I grew the plant then in commerce under the name Iris histrioides 'Major'. I have slides of this, although I have no way of digitizing them and posting the images to this forum. It seems to me that the plant(s) making the rounds now under that name are slightly different. How do others feel about this?
Here's something else of interest: those long-ago plants of Iris histrioides 'Major' set seemingly normal seed when pollinated by commercial Iris danfordiae, and Iris danfordiae set seed from the pollen of Iris histrioides 'Major'. I never attempted to germinate the seed, but it looked normal and the capsules were bursting with seed.
I mention this because some have questioned the parentage of Iris 'Katharine Hogdkin', some saying the yellow parent was I. winogradowii and others saying I. danfordiae. Those who claim I. winogradowii as the parent dismiss I. danfordiae with the claim that the commercial form(s) is/are "sterile triploid/s" .
But if Iris histrioides 'Major' is tetraploid, it would be able to fertilize triploid I. danfordiae.
By the way, is it Katharine Hodgkin or Katherine Hodgkin?
Here in Maryland, only a few reticulate iris leaves are above ground so far. It was above 60º F (~15º C) at 8:30 A.M. this morning. Colder weather is on the way.
Thanks for showing your irises, Dirk: unglaublich schön ist das Irisbeet.
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I believe Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' to be her correct name
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Iris K.H and Frank Elder. Can you see any difference?
Hans
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Frank Elder is the top picture and Katharine Hodgkin is the lower one. I am making this descision because both are presented side by side. I probably would not attempt to name one presented on its own.
Of the two I think Frank is a paler, more washed out iris than the much cheaper and more readily available Katharine, but that is a personal opinion.
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Hans, see on this thread reply172 of February 8 (Arthur Nicholls) and reply 174 also Feb 8 (Luit van Delft),
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1194.165
and then ?????? ;D
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a other unknown form from Iran,
not the species reticulata,
this flower standing of a stem, like pamphylica or kolpakowsiana
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Dirk
I think I like this one better than the others you have shown. So elegant and wonderful colours
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Dirk, wow :o :o :o
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That's a cracker
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You've got us all droolin again Dirk !
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Hans, see on this thread reply172 of February 8 (Arthur Nicholls) and reply 174 also Feb 8 (Luit van Delft),
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1194.165
and then ?????? ;D
Sorry David, today I was told the two pictures I showed there should be the other way around.
I was looking for a good picture of my own, but could not find them, so I took them from a
Dutch trader's catalogue.... ??? ??? ( So are the Dutch :( >:( ::) ::) :-X )
The one who told me said he would registrate so that he could tell the Forum himself when I make a mistake,
hope he does!
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Dirk and all Thanks for all these pics of marvellous irises
Franz, perhaps our histrioides Major are the same. Now after flowering under protection, the same in the garden some days later
Iris danfordiae
Iris histrioides Michael Angel
Iris histrioides Sheila Ann Germaney
Iris histrioides Sheila Ann Germaney 2
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my first sheila Ann germaney is curious with blue lines. Fine but perhaps a virus ???
Iris reticulata ' Marquerite 2
Iris reticulata 'Marquerite'
Iris reticulata 'Cantab'
Iris reticulata 'Clairette'
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and others
Iris reticulata 'Dijt'
Iris reticulata Halkis
Iris reticulata 'Harmony'
Iris reticulata Kuh-e-abr
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always
Iris reticulata 'Pauline'
Iris reticulata 'Pauline' 2
Iris reticulata 'Pixie
Iris reticulata 'Pixie' 2
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the end
Iris reticulata 'Purple Gem' 2
Iris reticulata 'Spring Time'
Iris reticulata 'Violet Beauty'
Iris X Katharine Hodgkin
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Great show of retics Dominique !
You don't seem to go around buying two or three bulbs at the time - you must buy them per Kilo ;D
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Dom, you are right, your first pic of Sheila Ann Germaney has virus. The others are fine... get rid of the virus ones fast... it would be so sad to affect all those other beauties!
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Lovely show Dominique, (apart from Sheila Ann Germaney 1 :() you have a magnificent collection there. All of mine are over now.
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That is really a nice show Dominique.
You don't seem to go around buying two or three bulbs at the time
Or did you propagate them yourself? Though when counting, here and there seem to be just 50 planted.
Only J.S. Dijt seem to me to much on the blue side?
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Thank you Maggi,Luit, David and Luc. I buy them by 10 bulbs (or one if expensive) and divise them with the time. My soil is sandy and it is good for them, generally. Some of them are not easy as Natacha for exemple. I will put off my virosed Ann Sheila Germaney...sniff !!!
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Dominque, they are all beautiful. Do you divide them every year, and how deep do you plant them?
They are just coming in to our nurseries now and are sold in packs of 5, so I have a while to wait to get as many as you.
Susan
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Fantastic photos everyone. Love that Halkis in particular!! Beautiful to find them all here together after an absence. Oh to have 50 of any retic!! ::)
Dirk,
Those species you've posted are just brilliant. Great colour combination on each of them. Love that pure white hybrid as well. Now of course I want to grow them all (as do most of the people reading this!! ;D)
Thanks for the pics everyone.
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Susan, I plant them at 8 cm depth and divide them only at the beginning to have quickly 50 or more. After they are free. If sandy soil dry in summer, its not a problem
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one of the last Reticulatas:
Iris kolpakowsiana
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Thank you. All I need now is sandy soil! Improved drainage must be the key to success. Mine grow well but do not seem to multiply readily.
Susan
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I started with 5 five bulbs.
Iris reticulata
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Franz........ :o :o :o
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Franz,
Yes, but how many years ago? ;)
Dirk,
The I. kolpakowskiana is another little beauty!!
Thanks for the pics.
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The first reticulata this year is 'Pixie'. Very unusual with reticulatas so early in our garden.I'm not sure I have seen one flowering in february. Maybe after the mild winter 1989 but if that is so, I've forgotten.
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Paul,
I think that I planted the bulbs before 25 years.
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Franz,
Well that DOES give them a bit of a chance to multiply then!! ;D Wonderful to see them in a mass like that. Are they just left there to naturalise, or do they get lifted some years?
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Paul,
I lifted they all 3 - 4 years.
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the end
Dominique,
one series chases the other.... A few days off the forum and it is overwhelming to follow up ;D
Great - lovely.
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some reticulatas new in this days
Iris winogradowii 'Alba', possibly a native cross with Iris hyrcana or reticulata
Iris histrioides from Zigana-Pass in NE-Turkey, very late and compact
Iris 'Frank Elder'
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Dirk
I hope you still have more to show us - all fantastic and not a hint of virus.
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That I. histrioides is to die for Dirk ! :o
Beautiful ! - I must get hold of it somewhere.
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Dirk,
Iris histrioides from Zigana-Pass is a stunner. 8) :o
Small honey mark and fine spreckling!
Very charming!
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Has anyone seen a variegated leaf on a reticulate iris?
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Noticed this in the garden and thought it looked a little different i.e. never seen anything like it before.
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Art 'Marguerite' is variegated
I've never has success with winogradowii but must try it again.
Arthur your Iris looks like similar 'Clairette' but I cant rush upstairs for photo
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Here are some shots of Iris in meadow and bulb bed.
Iris histroides Halkis
Iris histrioides Lady B. Stanley
Iris-hist.-Frank-Elder
Iris Katharina Hodgkin
Iris reticulata ‘ J.S. Dijt’
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W o n d e r f u l display Franz !
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Just moved this after photographing to the back door. Yes there is life after snowdrops 8)
Iris reticulata 'Springtime'
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Yes there is life after snowdrops
Brian, how wonderful, there IS hope for you ! I am even more resolved to work hard on your cure ;)
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::)
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Lovely Brian, did you start them off late, mine had all finished by the end of February?
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Yes there is life after snowdrops 8)
And for sure much more colourful, Brian. :D :D
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Brian
They look wonderful - and no virus in sight. Who was the supplier?
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David
Yes I am afraid I did start them off late, and I thought I would have to forfeit some of them because of it. I was, shall we say distracted by other things :-[
Arthur
The local group of the Hardy plant society puts in a combined order to Peter Nijssen every year - hence the quantities. I paid:
Iris Reticulata Spring Time 50 for 2.75
Species Lily Lady Alice 10 for 9.00
Species Lily Mrs R O Backhouse 10 for 20.00
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Brian
Thanks for info I Googled and eventually found my way to his site - good selection at good prices.
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the last of all reticulatas,
Iris winogradowii from Caucasus
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As usual Dirk, you have grown it to perfection.
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And an intriguing picture from me:
iris reticulata var. caucasica alba
a very rare wild form from our mountains
The there are some colour variations of iris reticulata growing here. The usual form is purple (diferent shades), though sometimes bicoloured, sky-blue and rarely magenta and whites coulod be found.
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Zhirair,
What a delightful white retic. There are people here on the forum who'd probably kill for a good white like that. ;D I'd probably be among them!! ::) I rather like the more slender species forms, but that white is particularly elegant. Very nice to see it, thanks for posting the pic.
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And an intriguing picture from me:
iris reticulata var. caucasica alba
a very rare wild form from our mountains
Zhirair,
looks definitely more white than the one in culture, I showed on page 6 of the Conn. Coll.
Hopefully it's a good grower too?
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Luit,
It is purest white and good grower like other reticulatas. I also had white with very pale sky-blue tint at the base of petals (again wild form), but, unfortunately, I lost it due to excessive moisture during winter time (I watered the plants very other week, like I do with my lilies).
I had a look at page 6 Con. As I see the sample illustrated has distinct sky-blue marks. I grow a trade form 'Natascha', which is white with blue overlay.
-
And an intriguing picture from me:
iris reticulata var. caucasica alba
a very rare wild form from our mountains
The there are some colour variations of iris reticulata growing here. The usual form is purple (diferent shades), though sometimes bicoloured, sky-blue and rarely magenta and whites coulod be found.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! That white retic is stunning. I'm in a killing mood as well Paul! ;D
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Zhirair
How do you grow your reticulate irises? What compost do you use? In Iran, they were growing in ground that was very like silt, not at all like the mix I use in pots. Dirk Schnabel (Udo) grows in a mixture of grit and peat and achieves wonderful results.
I have no problem growing them in the garden, where they bulk up very well, but I would like to grow my 'special' in pots and will take advice from anyone on the best compost.
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The local group of the Hardy plant society puts in a combined order to Peter Nijssen every year - hence the quantities. I paid:
Iris Reticulata Spring Time 50 for 2.75
Talk about killing! That's about what we'd have to pay for a single bulb here!
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Yeah, sickening isn't it!! ::)
Guess we're going to have to convince Zhirair to set some seed and send it over to us Aussies! ;) Could you imagine what a bulb of a white like THAT would cost here? :o
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Is that Euros or Pounds. Either way it is very cheap. Oh that we were allowed to bring them in to New Zealand..... I paid NZ$5.99 (about E3.00) for 5 Iris reticulata bulbs, which when and if they flower will probably be misnamed. Two years ago the ones I bought never appeared at all, and had just faded/rotted away. I think they are all brought into the country and were probably harvested 18 months before so are hard to get growing as they often appear to be somewhat dessicated.
Susan
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I know that you'd be very impressed with that white one. I know how valuable white forms of retic irises are among iris lovers. Actually I am planning to select some interesting forms from wild, get them multiplied and then I'll certainly share some of the interesting forms with you, guys. There are quite different forms growing here in wild and the possibilities for making prominant selection is quite high for me.
It is very boring to see that most of the companies offer the same varieties all the time and nothing special. I know that each of us are rather interested in special ones
Art,
The ordinary iris reticulatas I grow in the garden, but special ones I also prefer to grow in pots, though pot culture is not that appropriate here in our climate (not moderate). For all bulbs I use the same compost - leave mould, which I collect from the nearest forest under the trees. I don't use any fertilisers and pesticides and get wonderful results. But now from my mistakes I know that I should be very careful with watering, especially when the vegetation is finished and during winter period.
Some more pics of wild forms and named varieties
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These caucasica forms are beautiful Zhirair! I saw and pictured maybe something like that as
White Caucasus this spring (Weekly Lisse Show)
I know that you'd be very impressed with that white one. I know how valuable white forms of retic irises are among iris lovers. Actually I am planning to select some interesting forms from wild, get them multiplied and then I'll certainly share some of the interesting forms with you, guys. There are quite different forms growing here in wild and the possibilities for making prominant selection is quite high for me.
It is very boring to see that most of the companies offer the same varieties all the time and nothing special. I know that each of us are rather interested in special ones
And the bad thing is that some companies, when finding plants originated from wild habitats,
immediately start to bring them under Plant breeder's rights (PBR), also known as plant variety rights (PVR),
which I can understand with plants where many years of breeding were used.
But with wild plants it seems wrong to me.
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Luit,
I am well-familliar with iris reticulata 'White Caucasus', which made a big splash in Holland. I saw your pic when you posted it in the forum and was highly impressed by its beauty. But I think we won't appear soon in the market.
Your statement about author's rights are, unfortunately, true, but sad. I even know some cases, when a comany obtained some prominant iris reticulata selections from famous Canadian breeder Allan and then registered those forms under its name not mentioning anything about the breeder. The case even reached the court; Allan won the trials, but didn't get any compensation and the amount promissed by the company for those plants. Aditionally, I should mention that all this were related with some iris reticulata white-flowered hybrids.
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Art,
The ordinary iris reticulatas I grow in the garden, but special ones I also prefer to grow in pots, though pot culture is not that appropriate here in our climate (not moderate). For all bulbs I use the same compost - leave mould, which I collect from the nearest forest under the trees.
Zhirair
Do you mean you add a quantity of leaf mould to your standard compost, or do you mean just leaf mould?
Thanks for showing us some wonderful native Iris
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Arthur,
I just collect the upper 5 cm soil level under the trees rich with leaf mould (it is usually lighter than ordinary soil)
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Howdy All,
Not exactly sure whether this species should be in here or not, as not sure of classifications and how close it really is to retics.
This is a first flowering for me of Iris histrio (originally from Syria apparently)...... the flowers are just stunning. Much larger than any retic type I have ever seen before, and they're not really even fully open yet I think. Have been watching the buds getting taller and taller for the last week or so, and the leaves are 10 inches or more long (I can measure if wanted?). Just in case anything happens to the flower overnight I photographed it late this afternoon when I got home from work and saw it for the first time. I couldn't resist posting a couple of pics, even though they aren't perfect. If people are interested I can hopefully post better pics tomorrow. The spotting is just amazing!
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That's a lovely Iris histrio Paul. If you want a comparison take a look at http://www.badbear.com/signa/signa.pl?Display+Iris-histrio+1+1
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Truly beautiful Paul ! :o
Please post more pix when they have fully opened - they're worth it.
Thanks
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What a stunning plant!
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Paul
I think your plant is very much better than the comparison on site supplied by David.
Have you ever set seed on your Irises? I would like to be first in the queue if this one sets seed.
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Thanks for your comments everyone. Glad the pics were enjoyable. I'll take a couple more pics tomorrow if I am home when they are in better light.
Arthur,
I've never had seed set on any of my retics. I've tried hand pollinating a few times before, but obviously unsuccessfully. I might try pollinating the two flowers I have, plus I'm hoping to save some pollen if I can collect any, so that I can cross with some other retics if they flower this year. This one is WAY ahead of anything else I have. I don't know whether hitrio pollen is compatible with retics or the retic hybrids? I know that histrioides is involved in the crosses, but not whether histrio is?
The other possibility is that when this multiplies I can perhaps send you a bulb? Still haven't many as yet, but I don't know what difference the new crocus garden will make to the health of these yet. I'm expecting a lot more flowers on the retics next year, as many will recover this season from neglect (actually, more of a heat problem than actual neglect) and hopefully produce bigger flowering bulbs. I'm hoping I might still be a bit surprised this year and get more flowers than I expected. Fingers crossed.
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Howdy All,
Some pics I took today in a bit better sun. As you can see the flowers have expanded somewhat, looking much better now. Still look absolutely massive compared to so many of the retics. Each flower is just over 10cm (4 inches) wide, and the tallest point of the flower stands just over 17.5cm (7 inches) off the ground. I am very impressed!!
As to flower colour, the shot from above and the detail pic are the closest to actual colour, while the other shot with the dark background is a little more purpley than in reality.
Enjoy.
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And here's Iris histrio again, this time from a different source. This flower is a bit smaller, and slightly darker with heavier markings I think. May be an anomoly this season, but it came from Lebanon rather than Syria apparently, so they're countries apart! ;) ;D I have put pollen from the Syrian one onto this oen, so will see what happens there seed-wise. I think that the self pollination of the Syrian one may have worked, as the base of the flower I pollinated is more swollen than the other one when I squeeze it gently. Too early to tell for sure though. That is why I only pollinated one of them, so that I'd have some idea of whether there was a difference or not. Fingers crossed.
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Paul, that is a wonderful plant. Hope the pollination has gone well :)
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Thanks Magnar.
I'm also intending to do some crossed with reticulatas when they eventually flower. Anyone know whether histrio will cross with them? I know that the histrioides are in some of the named crosses we have today, but does reticulatas (or the histrioides hybrids) accept histrio pollen and set seed successfully? I can only imagine what something like 'George' crossed with histrio would result in, but I'm willing to give it a go. :D
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Paul
Your Iris keep getting better. This latest one is a stunner. Good luck with pollination/hybridisation.
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Wonderful histrio Paul - magnificent blue shade !! :o
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Paul,
Glad to see your wonderful Iris! Thanks
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Paul. I don't want to upstage you at all, but felt I should post these two pics which came to me yesterday from Marcus Harvey. They are originally from Otto's stock which I think (may be wrong here) came to him from Paul Furse. They are the same as yours, the Syrian Iris histrio. Alas I don't have this myself.
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I've brought one of my two pots of I. danfordiae inside in hope that the buds will warm enough to open. still raining here.
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I must have been dead at the beginning of the year when this thread started as I've not seen ANY of it before today when I went looking for a possible reticulata thread to post the above pics. What an amazing collection and I hope they're all shown again in the northern winter/spring. So many comments I wanted to make about ID and other things.
As a start, Iris bakeriana always has 8 sides to the leaves (almost round, but still countable), in cross section. I. reticulata always has 4 sides. The hybrids between the two,('Gordon,' 'Springtime,' 'Clairette' and any others) have between 4 and 8, usually 5, 6 or 7. That is the infallible way to distinguish bakeriana from its hybrids.
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Lesley,
Upstage away!! ;) Worthwhile for such wonderful pics. Marcus sent them to me as well the other day and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Forgot to ask whether he wanted them uploaded on here or not.
Would love to see a pic of your danfordiae. Hopefully mine with the insulation in the garden will actually mature enough to flower one of these years. I recall the one time I have had a flower, the first year I bought them, which was at least 15 years ago. Nary a flower since. ::)
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A correction first, Otto's Iris histrio came to him from a Frenchman, a Dr Boussard, not Paul Furse and it was collected in Lebanon.
Iris danfordiae spent yesterday in my kitchen and 5 flowers opened by evening. Even in those few hours, the stems have etoliated a little as can be seen from the pale growth next to the compost. But they wouldn't have opened at all outside, still raining and foggy, very cold and dank, drear and dreicht! There are 8 buds/flowers on this potful and another 7 on a second pot. Not bad for one year but remembering that these are the commercial clone, brought into NZ from Holland from a northern summer harvest (a year ago), then chilled until selling time here (February), thus getting over the change of seasons. If they survive at all I'll be very surprised and already they seem to be splitting, with individual leaves quite well apart from each other. They are planted half way down a plastic long tom pot and the compost is about 40% grit, last year's having rotted before they came up.
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Lovely, Lesley. I don't remember the green stripes in the middle on my one years ago, but it was long enough that I've probably just forgotten it. Thanks for the pics.
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Iris danfordiae ....Not bad for one year but remembering that these are the commercial clone, brought into NZ from Holland from a northern summer harvest (a year ago), then chilled until selling time here (February), thus getting over the change of seasons.
Lesley,
at least someone in NZ is willing to go to that expense to bring them in! I doubt any of the commercial distributors here have even thought of doing that!
Our retics (such as Harmony, George, Clairette) are still a few weeks away from flowering!
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Well someone was selling them a while back commercially. I can't remember whether it was in the coloured printed packets or loose bulbs, but the ones I originally got were from a local nursery, not from specialist mail-order at the time. I know that "mixed" reticulatas are in packets at nurseries many years now (but for some reason not every year) but haven't seen the danfordiaes in a lot of years.
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Best of luck with the Iris danfordiae Lesley. Can't remember where I read it but plant 'em very deep, feed 'em very well and give 'em plenty of lime are all supposed to be remedies to get Iris danfordiae to flower again in a subsequent year without breaking down into rice grains. If I post some pictures in January all three remedies will have worked!
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I'll do all of those David. Thanks.
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Lesley and David,
Definitely plant deep is what I knew for danfordiae as well. Up until now mine have always been in pots though, so they didn't get that insulation effect, which is of course why you plant deep in the first place. I'd tried plenty of feeding, but hasn't worked for me in the pots, but I hadn't heard about the lime. Will have to experiment with that I think, as my potting mix is fairly neutral from memory. Thanks David! (even though it was directed at Lesley, still useful to me too!! :D)
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This is a reticulata seedling from Alan McMurtrie's seed, with the information 90 AA - 1 x ? which doesn't really tell me much except, perhaps, that the cross was done in 1990. This is the third from the batch to flower and they are all identical in every way. The colour is very deep and rich and quite smooth. The spotting says everything there is to say about our present weather. It is nicely scented, as of Viola odorata.
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Nice one Lesley have You tried to pollinate it with the siblings?
If You manage to get offspring with the sent of Viola odorata than You can have Your pension (retirement fond) secured!?
Nice strong colours.
Kind regards
Joakim
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That's very nice Lesley.
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Good colour Lesley, particularly knowing how poorly the digital cameras show those sorts of colours (well any I have tried anyway). Would be a corker in person I'd imagine. You tried for seed?
With my original Iris histrio from Marcus which I tried self-pollinating, I can pretty much guarantee that it is trying to set seed. I did it deliberately on only one of the flowers so that I could test and compare, and the difference now between the bases of the two flower remains is marked. One has now swollen to about a cm thick, while the other has no sign at all. Glad I did it that way for comparison, even if it meant that I could have got twice as much seed by crossing to both of them! ;) Whether the seed will mature or course is another matter entirely, but there is still hope. Depending on what seed there is at the end of this I will hopefully be able to share some seed with at least a couple of people, even if only a few seeds each. I think that these small irises have pretty good germination and survival rates don't they?
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This is a reticulata seedling from Alan McMurtrie's seed, with the information 90 AA - 1 x ? which doesn't really tell me much except, perhaps, that the cross was done in 1990. This is the third from the batch to flower and they are all identical in every way. The colour is very deep and rich and quite smooth. The spotting says everything there is to say about our present weather. It is nicely scented, as of Viola odorata.
(Attachment Link)
Lesley
How long from seed to flower? I have pots and pots of seed that germinated last year - hope I do not have to wait too long.
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Lesley and David,
Definitely plant deep is what I knew for danfordiae as well. Up until now mine have always been in pots though, so they didn't get that insulation effect, which is of course why you plant deep in the first place. I'd tried plenty of feeding, but hasn't worked for me in the pots, but I hadn't heard about the lime. Will have to experiment with that I think, as my potting mix is fairly neutral from memory. Thanks David! (even though it was directed at Lesley, still useful to me too!! :D)
Paul, I roll all my Iris reticulata bulbs in dolomite lime and give them a good coating before I plant them.
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I also read that they like to sit on a good layer of silver sand. Not tried it myself though.
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Arthur, the seed was sown in Jan 2003 and the first flower on this and another form (almost white) flowered in the spring (Aug) of 2006 so not too long, but just one of each. In both 06 and 07, the white form came at least two week before the dark but this year the white is just coming through now. In 2003 when germination started, only one blue came up, then 2 more in 04 and a few more in 05. These are going to flower this year for the first time, likewise for the pale form which is below (from last year's flower).
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Lesley
Thanks for info - really not too long. I ordered 1500 seeds from Alan McMurtrie - gave a lot to friends - and only had one seed germinate in the first year. I put this down to a very mild winter. Next year was excellent germination and we had a distinctly colder winter. Roll on 2010
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Lesley,
Very nice pale blue. How white was the white one? Pretty rare commodity a white reticulata iris!
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Well that was it Paul, white in comparison to the dark one. I did say ALMOST white. :)
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Lesley
What mix to you use for your reticulate Iris? Do you leave them exposed all year round? - I know thy like a summer bake and not sure what summers are like at the foot of the world.
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With respect to the English climate Arthur, our summers are rather warmer and drier than yours, in general. There can be periods of two months when we have not a drop of rain and the temps may be to 33C though here, near Dunedin they are more usually around the high 20s.
I use just my ordinary gritty potting mix as for everything else. It's based on pine bark very finely crushed and composted, a local product known as "superdirt," with a little loam, about 10% and a total of about 20% sharp and course grit. I add some Osmacote Plus (trace elements), high potash, 9 month formulation. I use this for everything, including seeds. I might add some extra humus such as leaf mould for gentians or other cool soil plants, but there's nothing scientific about any of my potting methods.
The reticulate irises are let dry off when the foliage begins to look tatty and they're not watered at all from then but if there IS rain, they get it because they're not grown under cover at all. (Should say that I. winogradowii and KH and SAG are grown in the more humusy mixture. They are not encouraged to get too dry, and really are better planted in the garden, in a coolish, non-drying place.)
Otherwise all the reticulate iris are very nice in the rock garden and do well in what is mostly loam with a bit of grit added at planting time. Again, they get whatever rain there is, plus some watering as well, because after all, there are herbaceous plants there as well, but not a lot of watering as they are in the places where sun-loving plants are happiest.
These two out today. The first is 'Pauline' and the second is an odd little aberration in the pot of very pale blue/white seedlings, shown above. There is prominent pollen, not quite ready yet but if it ripens tomorrow I'll try in on something. The pale seedlings are just beginning to push their buds through.
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Thanks Lesley
Mine thrive in the garden, I am just hoping to get a better yield in pots - especially my seedlings from Alan McMurtrie seed.
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Lesley,
Very nice. The first of my retics opened today as well, one called 'Gordon' with a blue and violet combination. I shall probably be putting some histrio pollen onto it tomorrow! ;) Worth a try at least. ;D
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'Gordon' is bakeriana x reticulata so it will be an interesting hybrid if it takes.
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And that is the big "if" isn't it! ;) Not sure whether to try to save histrio pollen for particular crosses, or just cross them as they come out. Tried cross pollinating retics before but have never been successful, which is why I am somewhat surprised that the histrio selfing on the original flowers appears to have taken. Maybe just more fertile? I have quite a few named "retics" (i.e not knowing the exact parents involved, but probably not pure retic), but no idea which ones to aim for with the histrio, or which ones to cross between themselves. ::)
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Hi these are soem pics that Otto took in his garden (which i posted for him on the Winter in the Southern Hemisphere thread) and we're hoping for some confirmation about the first:
Is this Iris histrioides "Lady beatrix Stanley"?
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The next one is Iris histrio (or histrioides) received from E.B. Anderson
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This is iris danfordiae, from Janis Ruksans,
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And this is Iris histrio ssp aintabensis MT4501 collected by mathew and Tomlinson in Turkey,
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And a large clump of "Harmony"
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cheers
fermi on behalf of Otto Fauser in the Dandenongs!
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Re the 'Beatrix Stanley,' it's one I've never had so can't help at all. The various forms seems to have been mixed around too, as different people have supplied them in the UK. Hard to say what any is with any confidence (failing someone like Brian Mathew checking into the Forum occasionally).
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Howdy All,
A couple of retics in flower at the moment. 'Gordon' is a little more violet in the falls than in the pic.... can't quite capture the intensity of colour.... and if anyone can tell me the ID of the unknown that would be great. It is a mistaken supply, definitely not what it is supposed to be, and I am figuring it is 'Purple Gem' or 'J.S. Djit' or something like that but I can never remember which has white signals and which have yellow etc, plus there are still others that I don't have that it could also be. I figured that people up here might be the best ones to ask. Pretty, whichever it is. ;)
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and if anyone can tell me the ID of the unknown that would be great. It is a mistaken supply, definitely not what it is supposed to be, and I am figuring it is 'Purple Gem' or 'J.S. Djit' or something like that but I can never remember which has white signals and which have yellow etc, plus there are still others that I don't have that it could also be. I figured that people up here might be the best ones to ask. Pretty, whichever it is. ;)
Paul, that looks like what I know as 'Pauline'. What do others think? For me, this is one of the most persistent of the reticulate irises.
Under my conditions, few reticulate irises are reliable garden plants over the long run. However, if one is willing to go to the trouble of keeping them dry during the summer, most do well and persist indefinitely.
The old "original" clone of Iris reticulata has been here for over forty years, growing without any care or special attention! In general, the reticulate irises of the color range shown in 'Pauline' and 'J S Dijt' seem to have the best staying power as garden plants here.
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Lord knows I'm no expert and these little beggers, although very beautiful, are sometimes very difficult to tell apart. I think Otto's 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' probably is and I have posted a picture below taken a picture from Rob Potterton's Web Site which might be useful.
The following I have extracted from Janis Ruksan's 'Buried Treasures might also be helpful:-
"Another two relatives of iris reticulata grow in Turkey; I. histrio and I. histrioides. Both can be distinguished by their larger falls and by their bract and bracteole, which in I. reticulata are green and rather rigid but in the other two species are thin and papery, white, or only faintly tinged green. Iris histrio has falls that gradually merge into the claws, while in I. histrioides there is a clearly defined sinus between the falls and claw. I have never had an occasion to collect I. histrioides in the wild, and all the forms I grow are of Dutch origin. The most spectacular is 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' with large bright blue flowers and falls covered with white spots. It is so similar to all the samples of I. histrio that I have collected from Turkey that without studying the falls and claws it is not easy to tell which species is in front of me. In the case of I. histrio I would characterise the fals as white with blue spots in the middle. The forms of I. histrio from Syria are more violet in shade, with smaller falls that look more nervate than spotted. In general they more closely resemble I. histrioides var. sophenensis......."
Or does it muddy the waters?
As far as Paul's purple form is concerned it looks to me rather like Pauline (Lesley posted a pic of her's a few days ago) but there are other possibilities ie: Purple Gem
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I think it would have to be either 'Pauline' or 'Purple Gem.' 'J.S.Dijt' has a bright orange signal stripe on the fall and is slightly redder than the other two. 'Pauline' may be marginally lighter coloured than 'Purple Gem.'
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I knew that one of them had the strong colour on the signal, but get them all confused which was why I ask. So the differences between 'Pauline and 'Purple Gem' are minimal? Why in teh world register them separately then. ::) Economics, I guess.
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Lesley, all the I. reticulata crosses I have grown over the years from Alan Mc. Murtries seeds have flowered much of a muchness, a bit disapointing,
Paul, I,m almost certain your unitentified I. ret. is "Pauline" with its white signals, it has been available in Australia for many years.
David , Thank you so much for quoting Janis Ruksans on I.histrioides and histrio . ,and for the photo of I.h. "Lady Beatrix Stanley".I'm almost certain now that I have the right Lady, and also that E.B.Anderson's Iris is the Syrian form I. histrio.
Ciao Otto.
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Alan advertizes his seed on his website but it may be the things he has masses of. Looking at the pictures of his hybrids, I would want seed from the yellows and whites particularly, but I have to say I very much like the deep indigo one and the ice-blue I have. 5 more have flowered in the indigo pot and all are identical.
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............ David , Thank you so much for quoting Janis Ruksans on I.histrioides and histrio . ,and for the photo of I.h. "Lady Beatrix Stanley".I'm almost certain now that I have the right Lady, and also that E.B.Anderson's Iris is the Syrian form I. histrio.
Ciao Otto.
Otto, just noticed another aid to recognition of Iris histrioides Lady Beatrix Stanley on the Rare Plants Web Site. Apparantly LBS has 'a pervading scent of violets', can't say I have noticed this though.
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Otto, just noticed another aid to recognition of Iris histrioides Lady Beatrix Stanley on the Rare Plants Web Site. Apparantly LBS has 'a pervading scent of violets', can't say I have noticed this though.
I wasn't aware of the scent....thanks for that info.
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Most or all forms of Iris reticulata also smell of violets, i.e. Viola odorata. One of the reasons I love them so much. Some junos have the same scent or a very close one.
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Lesley, as you know I go around poking my nose
into everything... into all flowers and I have not found all retics to be scented..... you don't think my nose is failing, do you? :o :-\
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Mine must be too Maggi, I have never detected a scent in any of my Iris retics. Mind you, most of them are planted out in my bulb bed and I couldn't bend down that far to smell them!
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Well maybe it's a climate thing. We're told on excellent authority that Dunblane is always sunny but perhaps Aberdeen is cooler and it's warmth which brings out the scent. Or maybe my nose is especially attuned to such things. I'm sure your nose is delightful Maggi and in excellent condition.
A good reason David, to grow a few in pots. :)
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First of the reticulata section bad pic, Iris histrio aintabendis
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What happened to the picture Dom?? Noticed today that my Iris histrio aintabensis is just breaking but I will give it a couple of days and see if it opens better.
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All my Iris reticulata in the garden are now above ground. My Iris histrio died during the summer leaving only their tunics
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Sorry for the pic
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A beautiful "first" Dominique !
Can't wait for all the other crackers to come !!! :D
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All my Iris reticulata in the garden are now above ground. My Iris histrio died during the summer leaving only their tunics
I notice that I showed a pic of my first Iris reticulata to flower on 10 January last. So far I have nothing showing in the garden!
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My iris h.aintabendis is under glass. Those in the garden not ready to bloom
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A couple of pictures of my Iris histrio var. aintabensis from the greenhouse today. Still looking a little 'scrunched' owing to the cold conditions at the moment in spite of having had a couple of hours in the kitchen.
I am pleased that I have a flower since last winter my bulbs rotted after having been kept outside. This time I kept them under glass and the dryer conditions seems to have suited them.
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This is a reticulate iris, bought with the intention of potting them up for gifts...... forgot about them, of course, so they were not given any treatment to bring them on for Christmas gifts, but this pot has been taken indoors for us to enjoy....... to my shame I cannot remember the variety :-[.... but who cares, they are all lovely! :D This is really a darker, more velvety purple/blue than the pic shows.
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A couple of pictures of my Iris histrio var. aintabensis from the greenhouse today. Still looking a little 'scrunched' owing to the cold conditions at the moment in spite of having had a couple of hours in the kitchen.
They don't look all that bad David :D - give it a thought of how you might look after spending some weeks outside in the cold and being put on the windowsill after that.... ;D
Very blue indeed Maggi - beautiful !!
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Luc, I think I would have looked a little 'scrunched' as well ;D
Maggi, Iris retic. 'Edward' by any chance??
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David I have Iris histrioides George outside and it's up about an inch and a half. Seems to like our garden so I have surrounded it with snowdrops to show it off ;)
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Brian, still nothing showing in my outside bulb beds. I suppose it's a bit early to worry but I doubt if last years 'Summer!' did the Iris reticulatas any good at all.
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Yours looks very much like 'Harmony' Maggi.
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Not 'Edward', David, I think it IS 'Harmony'.... would have appealed to sense of humour when giving gifts to family members!! ::)
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Maggi
As Lesley, I confirm Harmony to my mind
Dom
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Thanks, Dom.
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Our Harmony, plunged in the unheated greenhouse are still at the 'nose above the soil' stage.