Nothing like seeing them in person. If there is a local iris club, get to know them and attend a show or some of their garden tours and see in person many irises and decide which ones you want to ger. Most clubs also have a sale and you can buy them for much less and don't have to pay shipping.

I've narrowed it down to some...can anyone tell me if they have any experience growing the following cultivars? I could probably get 5-7 of what's on my list.

Mid-America:
All Rise
Gem Trader
Painted Love
Reach the Stars
Starry Starry Night

Sutton:
Blackberry Torte
Castle Peak
Midnight Voyage
Elderberry Pie
Citrus Burst

Iris Sisters:
Get Inked
Flatlander
Echo of Spring
Dark Universe

Schreiner's:
Bumblebee Deelite
Dovetail
Main Street
Volcanic Glow

Nola's Iris Gardens:
Daughter of Stars
Symphony of Light

(Thank you to @LynNY for the suggestions of Dark Universe and Volcanic Glow...both which look like they would make amazing additions to my garden)

That's some great orders!

I have Gem Trader and Painted Love. They are great.

NovaBelle said: I've narrowed it down to some...can anyone tell me if they have any experience growing the following cultivars? I could probably get 5-7 of what's on my list.

Mid-America:
All Rise
Gem Trader
Painted Love
Reach the Stars
Starry Starry Night

Sutton:
Blackberry Torte
Castle Peak
Midnight Voyage
Elderberry Pie
Citrus Burst

Iris Sisters:
Get Inked
Flatlander
Echo of Spring
Dark Universe

Schreiner's:
Bumblebee Deelite
Dovetail
Main Street
Volcanic Glow

Nola's Iris Gardens:
Daughter of Stars
Symphony of Light

(Thank you to @LynNY for the suggestions of Dark Universe and Volcanic Glow...both which look like they would make amazing additions to my garden)

I grow both Dark Universe and Daughter of Stars. DoS is a real winner, I wholeheartedly recommend it. I frankly have been disappointed by Dark Universe. In photos, it looks stunning, but in my garden the flowers are rather small, although their colors are dramatic. It could be my fault, maybe I'm not giving it what it needs to grow well, but it does not have the garden impact I thought it would.

In my garden, Dark Universe is everything I hoped for. Here's a pic from last year

AndreaD said: I grow both Dark Universe and Daughter of Stars. DoS is a real winner, I wholeheartedly recommend it. I frankly have been disappointed by Dark Universe. In photos, it looks stunning, but in my garden the flowers are rather small, although their colors are dramatic. It could be my fault, maybe I'm not giving it what it needs to grow well, but it does not have the garden impact I thought it would.

Here are my favorites:

Dusky Challenger:


Vanity:


Golden Panther:


Stairway to Heaven:


Beverly Sills:


Absolute Treasure:


Queen's Circle:


Celebration Song:


and Royalty Remembered:


Silverado:


and Bluebird of Happiness:


Oh, and Bubbling Over:
if only for its sheer durability despite neglect, and its perfume. I have had it since about 1992, despite rot, borers, and over a decade of total neglect where all other irises died. This is one of Ghio's first bubble-ruffled beauties.

I just added Kent's DRAGON GLASS to my earlier order. It's not like I've got tons of room, or no purple irises, or anything. But the height, the glowing description about it being a reliable and long bloomer, and Kent's latest image...

DH may have to pot it (and the other irises), but he likes purple irises more than any other color iris, so in a way this is for him. And this should also more than make up for my recent loss of BLACK PHANTOM.

Now, someone stop me from ordering anything else this season...

LynNY said: In my garden, Dark Universe is everything I hoped for. Here's a pic from last year

Lyn, It looks like maybe I need to try Dark Universe in a different place and give it more room.
Lovely photo!

@Polymerous you can never have too many!!

Well, yes, you can.... if you are battling gophers (so have to pot things) and don't have enough sunny space (let alone energy).

Lovely photo of DARK UNIVERSE, Lyn!

Add BEAUTY BECOMES HER to that list...

AndreaD said: I grow both Dark Universe and Daughter of Stars. DoS is a real winner, I wholeheartedly recommend it. I frankly have been disappointed by Dark Universe. In photos, it looks stunning, but in my garden the flowers are rather small, although their colors are dramatic. It could be my fault, maybe I'm not giving it what it needs to grow well, but it does not have the garden impact I thought it would.

DoS is a great, un-fuzzy iris. My DU is doing well, even though it is in a pot.