Multipetaled Japanese are the largest I've seen but I don't believe they were a foot across.

Some of the cheaper seed catalogs may offer Japanese collections in the spring issues, but the best time to plant is in the late fall. Ensata Gardens in Michigan is a good source for newer varieties.

Prices range from a few dollars up to $40 or $50 for a new introduction.

If you are talking about some large Tall Bearded, none achieve the size you mentioned. Giant Rose used to be the biggest for years. Now, I think it might be Supreme Sultan. I don't keep up with such because they tend to fall over.

Walter Moores

This is what I thought of.
GIANT ROSE (Schreiner's 59) S. giant orchid-pink; F. fuchsia-rose.
Japanese iris would be the biggest that I know of,
since they lay out flat.
Never seen any iris that were a foot across.

Very large bearded iris are usually on the floppy side. In this case, bigger is not better. Even the largest beardeds would not reach 12" across, however.
Laetitia

actually I have heard they are over a foot wide 30 centermeters . this was from an article in the "world book encyclopedia" written by Jerry M. Baskin
thak yopu for all your help by the way !

In one of those weird coincidences that make life interesting, I was sorting through a box of Organic Gardening magazines someone gave me, and opened an issue from March 1962 to page 12. There is an ad - now mind you, it's an AD, so who knows if they are really this big -from the Walter Marx Gardens in Oregon, selling a Japanese Iris called "Marhigo" and claiming that the blooms reach 8-12 inches. Now, this part's depressing: 20 plants cost five dollars.

katie

One time I got some Japanese iris from Michagan Bulb. Hey it was before I knew Better!!! They were 1½" tall. Of course they died they were all dried out. I think they were $7.95 for 3. They were replacements from somthing else that died.

Mike G

What ever happened to the Michigan Bulb Company?
Still in business?
Brings back nostalgic memories. As a kid I loved their advertisements, like 50 perennials for 5.95. Then you get all excited and buy it, and a small box arrives with 50 tiny dried out plants.But you don't know any better, so you plant them anyways. Some live; most die.
Last thing I ordered from them about 10 years ago was a flowering almond....which turned out to be a common (rather ugly)cherry with small white flowers.
Hey, I still have it. I get alot of tiny red cherries which are edible.
Can't get rid of anything.
Laetitia

I have always been a sucker for the pictures in the plant catalogs. Like you say a few live but most die. I have hundreds of glads that came from 5 free bulbs from Michigan Bulb. I let them grow wild behind a dog pen for about 15 years and only got a few blooms. I moved them to good dirt and full sun and even the smallest bulbs bloomed the first year. I give away a lot of glad bulbs each year from those 5 free bulbs. What ever I ordered that encluded the five free bulbs is long forgotten. Lee Mincy

i have a collection ensata's and they are several with ø9"
Belgium Irislover

I got something in the mail the other day from Indiana, I think it was. There is a new garden 'conglomerate' naming Spring Hill, Michigan Bulb, Gurney's, Stark Brothers, and some other really fine gardening names combining their best efforts to serve the gardening public.

I think I have already trashed it.

Walter Moores

I have heard "Schribners 99" has a huge bloom ! How large is it ?

I'm sorry I've never heard of "Schribners 99".

I thought I would chime in and say that the largest iris I've seen locally was 'Supreme Sultan'. I would guess that it was 40"+ tall and the bloom might have been 8" in height from tip to tip, but not 1' across.

As far as purchasing it, I would just about guarantee that almost any of the growers listed in other posts regarding sources would have it for less than $10.

If you are only concerned with width then a flat TB or a japanese iris would be your best bet.

I thought that 'New Perspective' was a pretty neat flat one. It was probably 7" across but since it's a 2004 it will cost more than most. I haven't the slightest idea who might have it for sale though.

This is NP in the Missouri Botanical Gardens during last year's convention.
{{gwi:1040958}}

I hope this helps somehow.
Brock

Can I assume that the tall bearded iris and the Japanese irises can crossbreed freely , with fertile offspring ?