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Iris (Iris)
While we don't offer any of the typical bearded iris selections, what we do feature are some really great selections and hybrids of the easy-to-grow, naturally-occurring species. As a group, iris can range from alpine dryland plants to bog dwellers and from sun to shade, so there is no set of rules for the genus as a whole. We think you will enjoy our listing, which includes some really choice gems this season.
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Iris versicolor 'Brunswick Beauty' (Brunswick Beauty Blue Flag Iris)
Sun to Part Sun Zone: 5-9, guessing 24" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
We received this selection from plantsman Jesse Perry, who discovered it in the Green Swamp region of Brunswick County, NC, just north of the town of Supply. When the foliage emerges in spring, the base of the leaves are attractively suffused with dark purple pigment. The clumps are topped in late spring with 2' flower spikes of narrow-petaled, intensely purple flowers...a very nice selection of our native Iris versicolor. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06590
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Iris virginica 'Carl Amason' (Carl Amason Blue Flag Iris)
Sun to Part SunZone: 5-9 48" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
This unique clone of our native Iris virginica was selected by Arkansas native plant guru, the late Carl Amason, from a population along the Ouachita River in southern Arkansas. It was subsequently named for Carl by another Arkansas plantsman, Larry Lowman. This vigorous 4' tall clone emerges with a nice purple flush to the new foliage and is later topped in early June with mauvy-pink flowers held on black-purple flower stalks. In 2 years, the clump can easily expand to 4' wide...happy in both regular garden soil as well as swamps. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05518
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Iris virginica 'Contraband Girl' (Contraband Girl Giant Blue Flag Iris)
Sun to Part SunZone: 5-10, at least 72" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
I. virginica 'Contraband Girl' is a very vigorously growing, MASSIVE selection (probably a tetraploid) of our native blue flag water iris. It's so big, we have to beat it back with whips and chains just to keep it confined to its pot. When planted, the bold-textured robust clumps, 6' tall x 6' wide (in moist sites), are topped with larger than normal, blue-purple flowers in the spring. Iris 'Contraband Girl' (should have been named "Incredible Hulk-ette") is equally happy in a swamp or in regular garden soil...very easy and incredibly durable! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #01350
SOLD OUT
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Iris x louisiana 'Black Gamecock' (Black Gamecock Louisiana Iris)
SunZone: 6-10, at least 60" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(Chowning 78) This award-winning iris makes a huge, 5' tall clump of wide, iris-like foliage, topped in early May with stunning, dark blue, Elvis-like, velvet-colored flowers. Louisiana iris grows equally as well in moist soils as in 4" of standing water. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07088
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Iris x louisiana 'Brushfire Moon' (Brushfire Moon Louisiana Iris)
SunZone: 6-10, at least 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(Pryor 94) This vigorous selection of Louisiana iris makes 3' tall x 5' wide clumps in just 3 years when grown in a moist, rich soil...shallow standing water is also just fine. The clumps are topped in late April through early May with 3' tall spikes of brilliant golden yellow flowers that make the clump glow like a giant lightning bug in the garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07279
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Iris x louisiana 'Cajun Love' (Cajun Love Louisiana Iris)
SunZone: 6-10, at least 30" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(Rowlan 90) If you've been lonely at night, maybe a little 'Cajun Love' along with a heap of Zydeco music is just what the plant doctor ordered. This vigorous selection of Louisiana iris is topped in early May with large brownish-violet flowers, each highlighted by vivid yellow markings on the three falls. Louisiana iris grow equally well in moist soil or in up to 4" of standing water.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07087
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Iris x louisiana 'Handmaiden' (Handmaiden Louisiana Iris)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-10, at least 24" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(J. Ghio 81) This stunning and easy-to-grow Louisiana iris hybrid has been the rage in our garden for the last few years at our Spring Open House, so we finally got around to potting a few. The evergreen, sword-like foliage is topped in early May with cinnamon reddish-brown flowers with bright yellow centers. I know the color sounds hard to believe, but this hybrid is incredible. For best results, Louisiana iris should be planted in a bog or in evenly moist garden soil. In 3 years, expect a 3' wide clump. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03415
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Iris x louisiana 'Joie de Vivre' (Joie de Vivre Louisiana Iris)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-10, at least 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(Pryor 97) Iris 'Joie de Vivre' is a Louisiana iris introduction from Heather and Bernard Pryor of Australia, who obviously have a great appreciation for our US native iris. For inquiring minds, 'Joie de Vivre' translates into "enjoyment of life." The flowers that top the clumps in late April through early May are a ruffled, reddish lavender-brown highlighted by a yellow central blotch. I'll bet that's not a color you've seen very often...unless you frequent some seedy downtown street corners. When growing in moist, rich soils, the vigorous clumps can easily reach 3' tall x 5' wide in 3 years.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07280
SOLD OUT
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Iris x louisiana 'Now and Forever' (Now and Forever Louisiana Iris)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-10, at least 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(Pryor 97) This 1997 Louisiana iris introduction is an obscenely vigorous selection that makes an 3' tall x 8' wide patch in just three years...if you keep it happy. The massive clump is topped in late April through early May with large, lavender flowers with narrow, white borders. If you can provide good, moist, rich soils or even shallow standing water, this is a can't-miss plant for even the brownest of thumbs.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07278
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Iris x louisiana 'Prix D'Elegance' (Prix D'Elegance Louisiana Iris)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-10, at least 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(Pryor 97) The large, ruffled, cinnamon brown flowers on this easy-to-grow Louisiana iris selection bring a new range of colors to the garden. The amazing flowers top the vigorous clumps, 3' tall x 5' wide in 3 years, in late April through early May. If you have a ditch or moist spot that's been a problem, fill it with Louisiana iris...the perfect solution.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07281
SOLD OUT
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Iris x louisiana 'Professor Paul' (Professor Paul Louisiana Iris)
SunZone: 6-10 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
(J. Mertzweiller 80) This 1980 tetraploid introduction makes a robust 3' tall clump of vertical green leaves topped, starting in mid-May, with large, 5", light lavender-blue flowers. I. 'Professor Paul' is equally at home in moist soils or 4" of standing water. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07086
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Iris x louisiana 'Sinfonietta' (R. Raabe 87)
Sun to Part SunZone: 6-10, at least 32" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
The award-winning Iris x louisiana 'Sinfonietta' forms a wide-spreading clump of dark green foliage, topped in early May (NC) with 6" wide navy blue flowers, each highlighted with yellow throats (nothing a little Zicam won't cure). As with all Louisiana iris, swampy conditions are preferred, but we have grown this for years in typical garden soil with no ill effects. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08370
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Iris x pseudata 'Aichi no Kagayaki' (Aching Tongue Iris)
SunZone: 5-9 36" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
Despite the tongue-twisting name, which means "bright inspiration", we have really enjoyed this bizarre cross of Iris pseudacorus x Iris ensata. While it grows well in shallow water, we grow ours in dry sand where it is equally wonderful. The foliage emerges chartreuse-yellow in spring, highlighted by the large flowers in mid-May (NC). Each flower is light yellow, topped by an attractive brown marking near the base of the petals. As compared to the prolific-seeding I. pseudacorus, the best feature of Iris 'Aichi no Kagayaki' (my #@x@x* spell checker keeps insisting on Kawasaki) is its sterility...no garden abortions necessary. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05794
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Iris x pseudata 'Kimboshi' (Ueki 71)
Sun to Part SunZone: 5-9, at least 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
Iris 'Kimboshi', which means "golden hat" in Japanese, is a 1971 hybrid of I. pseudacorus x I. ensata from Japan's Mr. Ueki. This sterile hybrid has amazing vigor and quickly forms a robust clump, topped in spring with large pale yellow flowers, each highlighted by a dark yellow eye-zone and dark lines radiating out into the three petals. I. 'Kimboshi' prefers moist soils but also grows well as a marginal aquatic. Thanks to the late garden writer M.M. Graff for sharing her favorite iris with us just prior to her death at age 97.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08274
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Iris x robusta 'Dark Aura' (J. Hewitt 96)
SunZone: 4-9 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
(aka: I. virginica DeLuxe) This splendid Iris hybrid between US natives I. versicolor and I. virginica quickly became one of our favorites, as well as a favorite of the Royal Horticulture Society, who awarded it the 2005 Award of Garden Merit. The black-purple flushed new growth expands upward to 3' tall, topped throughout May (NC) with jet black scapes that hold violet-blue flowers just above the foliage. Iris 'Dark Aura' can be grown both in average garden soils or in shallow depths of standing water...simply superb Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07945
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