There are a number of very cute old old iris around, so old that their names are all forgotten.
However, they are the precursors of our modern ones, and some people still enjoy growing them in their gardens. I am putting a couple here...remember they really have no names that we know of but they are very hardy. although you cannot buy these iris as they do not have names, they can be found in many places, and are generally considered 'passalong iris'.
This little beauty is quite widespread, so the chances that it had a name once is quite likely. Some people call it the Gypsy Queen, but it is not that iris at all. The real Gypsy Queen is a different iris but it looks similar.
It is of a type of iris called variegata, because it has a yellowish standard and a reddish purple fall.
Here is another early iris, also in the same category.
Very widespread, but very old, and no one knows the name
anymore. This one is called an amoena, which indicates it has
a white standard and a purple/lavender/colored fall.
It seems to love colder climates.
Both these iris have slender foliage and small flowers.
They grow to about 18" more or less, and are quite hardy.
They are diploid iris, unlike modern iris which are tetraploid
meaning they have half the number of chromasomes that modern iris usually have.
Both these iris have delicate veinings on the falls (the lower petals). For a long time breeders tried to eliminate the veining when they developed new iris, but some people
who love the historic iris love the delicate markings.
Well, that's all for tonight kiddies.
See you soon again, and I promise another post in a quicker time frame.
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