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Any experience with these irises?

17 years ago

Hello, everyone. I've been pouring over Cedar Ridge's iris catalogue. It's such a shame the business is closing because they're carrying a large number of historic varieties.

I've had mixed success with Tall Bearded irises in my garden--the ones I've gotten (mostly NOID historics) from trades with local gardeners have done quite well, but new varieties that I've ordered by mail, or bought at a garden centre, have been hit and miss.

I'd love to try one of each of all the TB's that CR is offering, but the prices aren't that low. DH and I will be fixing up 3 bathrooms in less than a month; the budget for flowers is not as unlimited as I would like! Besides, I truly don't have room for all the ones I want.

So, I'm hoping that someone on this forum has grown some of the varieties on my "short" list, and can tell me if they're hardy in zone 3, reasonably floriferous, and garden worthy. I'd be grateful for any and all comments!!!

Best Bet

Babbling Brook (fragrant??)

Cinnamon Girl

Dauntless

Jesse's Song

Latin Lover

Gypsy Romance

Ring Around Rosie

Soft Jazz

Wabash

Swingtown (fragrant??)

Thornbird

Study in Black

Spartan

Prairie Sunset

Mary Frances (fragrant??)

Honky Tonk Blues

Pacific Panorama

Allegiance

Goodnight Moon

Before the Storm

Brown Lasso (not a TB--can't decide if I like the looks or not, LOL)

I did say SHORT list, didn't I? I have to cut this down by at least half. (Pounting and having a tantrum...) Please help!

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Comments (5)

marricgardens
17 years ago
Hi. The only one of those I have is Gypsy Romance. It is gorgeous! Does a great job of flowering and is fragrant. By the way, there is no such thing as a short list, you should see mine! Marg
valleyrimgirl
17 years ago
I have a few TB's but more SDB, MDB, IB etc.

These are the ones I have.

Spartan

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Babbling Brook, side view...

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Babbling Brook top view...

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Brown Lassoo, side view...

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Brown Lassoo, top view...

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Each of these irises have been in my garden since 2004. They only bloomed last summer for the first time. I really like Brown Lassoo. Totally different and eye catching.

Have fun in deciding!!

Brenda
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cailinriley
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the replies, ladies.

Marg, I didn't know Gypsy Romance was fragrant. I don't think I read that in any of my research. I love fragrant irises; there's a huge--very floppy--dark purple iris in my garden that was there when we moved in. Although the iris has no form or substance, it has the most intoxicating grape fragrance, so it stays!

Brenda, you've convinced me that I need Brown Lasso. Those are lovely photos (all three of them)!!

OK, so I now know at least 4 varieties will stay on my list. Thanks, again.
northspruce
17 years ago
Doris, that grape scented one is a historical variety that I used to know the name of... it's supposed to be one of the best. I will see if I can try to remember.

I have Cinnamon Girl too, but I only got it last year so can't help you with its performance. I loved the look of that one! I'm getting a little nervous about all the mixed reviews on TBs. I bought a pile of them last year.
cailinriley
Original Author
17 years ago
Gil, this is my grape scented iris. When it rains, the petals sort of melt together making the flower look like mush. But the stems are tall enough that you can easily bend over and bury your nose in its luscious fragrance:
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The Calgary Hort. Society published some books (The Calgary Gardener Vol. 1 and 2) a while back; this is the information they give about bearded irises in our climate:

"Developed and selected for flower size and colour rather than winter hardiness, they require ideal conditions to survive our winters."

I have a feeling that the TBs I've lost were either planted too late in the season to develop good roots, or they were not growing in ideal conditions. I've also lost a few because of deer. They don't eat them...they just stomp all over them in winter in order to get to the cedars. I'm determined to keep trying because many of them are so beautiful.

Please keep us updated re: all your new TBs, Gillian. I hope they all grow well and bloom for you this spring!

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