Do you know this species??

20 years ago

After my 'open garden' two years ago a very nice lady dropped off a small clump of this iris and wanted me to identify it. I thought it was a siberian, but she insists it cannot be that. Seeing it now I am inclined to agree with her. I've never seen a sib with purple in the throat before. In this pic it's about 14" high, but the other bloom stalks are up to 17" now. The flowers are dainty, off-white, purple in the throat and gold on the hafts. There are 3-4 four buds at the top of the stalk, and no branches. The foliage is very similar to a siberian, not thick and tough like a PCI. I really like it, and would love to put a name on the species it is. It's unlike any other I grow. Appreciate any input!

Mike

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Sparaxis
20 years ago
That is lovely! White siberian irises usually have no purple coloration in the at all. My first thought was missouriensis, but that is unlikely.
I looked at the SIGNA page and I am sure that the white 'siberian' iris shown there is a Dutch iris! :-(
I wonder if this could be a sinosiberian cross of some sort.
I would be very guarded about calling it a species, but it looks to be related to the siberian family.
The iris in my garden that shows the most similarity in haft colour is "Sibtosa Princess" - a siberian setosa cross, so maybe there is a clue?
garden_of_mu
Original Author
20 years ago
It could very well be a species cross, and if so I'd bet siberian has to be part of it. The setosas on the SIGNA site do how some bit of purple speckling on the throat, but none as thick as this. I wsh there was more info on their particulars. Still, that species is a definite possibility as part of a cross. Thanks for the input!

Mike
Related Professionals
Aiken Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lynchburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Traverse City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rutland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Cambridge Landscape Contractors · Meridian Landscape Contractors · Davenport Landscape Contractors · Rochester Landscape Contractors · Lincoln Landscape Contractors · Albany Landscape Contractors · Middletown Landscape Contractors · Charlottesville Design-Build Firms · Dubuque Design-Build Firms · Amarillo Design-Build Firms · Bend Design-Build Firms
wmoores
20 years ago
Jean Witt, a species expert, lives in your area. The last address for her was Des Moines, WA. She would know what it is. You could send a picture of it to the Yahoo Species Iris group or even to Jean.

Whatever it is, it is unique.

Thanks for showing it to us.

Walter Moores
laurief_gw
20 years ago
I agree with Walter. Post the pics to the iris-species mailing list ... and to sibrob. Actually, I don't think sibrob allows attachments, but you could post a link to the archived pics at Mallorn. Someone on one of those two mailing lists is bound to know what the plant is.

Laurie
CA Kate z9
20 years ago
The photos appear to be a form of Pacific Coast Iris, possibly Douglas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pacfic Coast Iris Society
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
20 years ago
It is a douglasiana - foliage, flower shape, even coloring are consistant with that species. Flower color of douglasiana is pretty variable - everything from a deep, purply blue, lighter blues and violets and whites with purple markings. I have several and each is a bit different in color. May even have gotten a few from Jean - she has shared a number of her species and hybrids with me, but it's been a number of years.
Sparaxis
20 years ago
Absolutely no way is that a douglasiana, or any other type of pacific coast iris. If I prove to be wrong I will give up my PCI breeding program!

Here is a link that might be useful: SIGNA - douglasianas
garden_of_mu
Original Author
20 years ago
Nope, it is not a PCI. I grow many of them and the foliage is completely different. The iris-species group experts (with help from the sib-rob experts) have proclaimed this to be a straight, if dwarf form, of i. siberica. Apparantly it fits the wild species form to a T. Having only ever seen garden hybrids, this would explain my confusion. There was something about a speciel set of recessive genes removing pigment from the petals of this particular variety (which is not an unknown one!) as well, but I don't always follow all that genetics info.

Thanks for all the input! =)

Mike
iris_gal
20 years ago
Its form in sure reminiscent of old Sibs. This is Rimouski 1937

{{gwi:1025333}}
Sparaxis
20 years ago
What a lovely photo of a luscious iris Iris Gal!