I've seen a few iris blooming in gardens around Smithfield. They must be I. kochii, because they always bloom in March and have that characteristic royal purple color. They're just beautiful.

Alicia, have you ever seen Iris kochii for sale around here? Elizabeth Lawrence talks about it in her books and I would love to plant it in my garden. I've got Iris lazica and unguicularis in full bloom here now.

Mine are the old German irises, pale purple, that smell like grape Kool-aid. Mmmmm! :) Someone was giving them away when I first moved here, so I happily dug them up and planted them in my front flower bed.

Karen I ordered my Iris kochii from Argyle Acres online. AA is a topnotch iris vendor and sells a lot of historics. They sell it under the name Kochii. I don't have enough of it to divide yet.

Rosebush your iris sounds like one of the pallidas. They are yummy!