FAQ 9

Answer: There are several explanations that may account for such discrepancies. First and most obviously, you may have acquired a mislabeled plant. Large discount retailers and home building centers (the “Marts”) are notorious for selling misidentified irises. Even reputable iris growers occasionally mislabel a plant, though they are usually quick to replace such an error with the proper cultivar upon notification.

A second and much more common problem is for iris sellers to enhance promotional catalog descriptions and/or photos to make their irises seem more “jazzy” than they are in real garden life. Photographic enhancements are easily made once an image is digitized for computer use. Even unenhanced photos of a particular cultivar can look surprisingly different under changing light conditions and with the varying age of the bloom. Also, cameras often interpret blue flowers as some shade of purple. Print cameras are particularly prone to this problem, making it extremely difficult to accurately photograph any bloom within the blue range of color.

Add to that confusion the exasperating tendency of many hybridizers and nurseries to use the word “blue” to describe various shades of lavender-purple, and one never knows what to expect out of a “blue” iris. Similar confusion arises out of the color descriptions for red and green irises. There are no true red irises yet. “Reds” fall into the ranges of purplish red, brownish red, and orangeish red. “Green” irises are generally yellow with greenish under or overtones.

Lastly, growing conditions can influence bloom color to some degree. A prime example is the tall bearded iris, THORNBIRD. Photos of this cultivar in different gardens portray it as either a dull, ugly khaki color or as a gorgeous beigy bloom sometimes overcast with purple tones. Climatic conditions and the intensity of sunlight can dramatically affect color saturation and hue in iris blooms. Irises grown in colder climates sometimes develop more depth of color, but dark colors may fade badly under the intense sun of more southerly climates. I’m sure other colors are similarly affected by growing conditions.

It could be that the bloom in your garden is identical to those in the nursery’s garden. The best way to confirm this is to travel to the nursery during bloom season and see for yourself.