SPEC: Differentiating Iris Species Before Bloom

In a message dated 6/4/2007 9:48:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time,  
badams007@yahoo.com writes:

<<I was away from my garden during bloom season (grandchild being  born) and 
I suspect that some well-intentioned person planted some old  fashioned blue 
flag in with my TB and BB....

Is  there any way to tell these rascals from my perfectly respectable 
varieties  pre-bloom, or should I just wait and mark them out as they bloom  ??>>>


I'd wait and see what these rascals  are, frankly.
 
If by "old fashioned blue flag" you mean the venerable  species Iris 
germanica Linnaeus, the botanical type of the  genus Iris Linnaeus, I'd keep it. It is 
controversial,  certainly, but entirely respectable, and a fine garden 
species. 
 
I would say should be able to distinguish I  germanica  easily from the TBs 
and the BBs in any  normal  season since it is an IB, so will bloom earlier.
 
If  by blue flag you mean Iris versicolor Linnaeus,  a beardless species, you 
should be able to distinguish it from your bearded  species by the foliage 
and rhizome at any stage of growth.
 
Cordially,
 
Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA





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