Old-Fashioned Irises

18 years ago

Hello, Iris people -

I'm new to your forum, and also new to irises. I thought that this year I would like to plant some irises in containers (I don't know how well they would do in containers, but I have no option). My problem is that as I look at the pictures of irises in catalogs or on the web, I'm not happy. I like simplicity, and everything I see is so gaudy and beruffled that it looks like some kind of jungle fungus. I exaggerate, but what I mean is that I don't like that look.

I'm remembering how irises looked when I was a child (in the 1940s) and even later, and I guess that what I want is that earlier iris look. I wondered if anyone on this forum could tell me if there is a mail-order source for "older" irises, similar to the situation with Old Roses. If any of you can help, I would be very grateful.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

PollyNY
18 years ago
Superstition is my place to get the older irises. There are many others, but that's the one I like.

They have pictures only on a website, you need to write to get the catalog

Here is a link that might be useful: gardenwatchdog
carlos42180
18 years ago
Hi there,

Somewhere on this forum, I posted a topic called Master Historic Iris File, which has companies that sell historic Iris. You should also visit the Historical Iris Preservation Society (HIPS) if you are interested in older Iris.

As Polly mentioned, Superstition is good place to start. Other growers would include Riverview Iris Gardens and Bluebird Haven Iris Gardens. Those two in particular grow many iris that other place simply don't carry anymore.

Carlos

Here is a link that might be useful: Master Historic File Topic
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organic_tosca
Original Author
18 years ago
Polly and Carlos -
Thank you both for the information!

Polly: If I'm not mistaken, I think that Superstition is not far from me - I live in Sacramento, CA. I must go up there to see what I can find, also next Spring, FOR SURE.

Carlos: Right after reading your post, I went to the HIPS site, where I spent hours looking at all those wonderful irises! I've now got a lo-o-ong list of irises to choose from. I should be able to find SOME from that list! I also downloaded your Master Historic File, but, as I am working on a Mac and do not have Excel, I haven't looked at it. I followed your link to your earlier post about the MHF, and saw that one of the responders gave a link to a site that gives a free download of an Excel Viewer. That's my next challenge, to look into that - I always worry about free downloads, but in this case I might do it.

To both of you: I'm grateful to you both for helping me. I have an awful feeling that I'm starting down a slippery slope with those lovely irises! Did the same thing last year with Old Garden Roses...
PollyNY
18 years ago
Here's a link to Superstition iris photos. If it's in the photos they have it for sale. Scroll down the page and you will find historics.

You should definitely visit. They sure seem like great people.

It is definitely a slippery slope!

Here is a link that might be useful: Superstition pictures