unidentifiable flower

[mandp523]

Hello,
Last fall we moved into a new house in central Indiana.* The yard has 1 3x6 pond, 1 3x2 pond, and 1 half-barrel pond.* There are many flowers growing in the ponds!* We don't know what most of them are.* So, maybe someone will recognize these descriptions!* Thank you for all of the help!
1.* tall stem with cone-shaped flower on top - top half of flower is orange, bottom half is yellow.* 2 tall stems right next to each other, and growing next to a day-lily plant.
2.* In water, green follage, with small purple cont-type flowers.* Also in same area is a purple iris-type flower.

Thank you!

[Newt]

Hi Mandp,

Congratulations on your new home!* Pictures are always helpful, but let's see how close I can come.

1. tall stem with cone-shaped flower on top - top half of flower is orange, bottom half is yellow.

Sounds like Kniphofia aka torch lily aka red-hot poker but I can't imagine them growing in the water.* They come in different colors and milti-colors.* Is this it?
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/8292/1
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/po...ofia_nelso.php

2 tall stems right next to each other, and growing next to a day-lily plant.

Is this a separate plant?* If so, how tall, what color, any markings on the stems?

2. In water, green follage, with small purple cont-type flowers.

What is a "cont-type" flower?* How are the leaves shaped?* Are they growing in a pot in the water or just sitting on the water without a container?* Water hyacinth comes to mind, but they wouldn't have wintered over.* Maybe pickerel rush?
http://lilypons.com/prodinfo.asp?number=20600

Also in same area is a purple iris-type flower.

There are many species of iris.* Without a picture it would be difficult to say, but I suspect either Siberian iris, Japanese iris or blue flag iris.* The first two come in shades of purple, pink or white.

Siberian iris aka Iris sibirica have narrower leaves then the bearded iris that most people think of when they think of iris and their leaves are smooth.* They are beardless. The flowers are narrower too.* They grow in nice clumps and their leaves are grass-like.* These might be blooming now where you are and are my first guess.* I'm in zone 7 and mine are finished blooming.
http://www.cdn-iris.ca/siberian.html
http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/img/flow748.JPG
http://www.stoneypointflowers.com/Fu...%20%206-05.jpg
http://www.paghat.com/irissibirica.html

Japanese iris aka Iris ensata aka Japanese water iris also have narrower leaves then the bearded iris but they have a ridge that runs down the center of each thin leaf.* The flowers are also beardless and narrower then the bearded iris but wider then the Siberian.* The flowers are more orchid-like.* They grow in nice clumps and their leaves are grass-like. In this first pic you can see the ridge in the center of the leaf.* I don't think they would be in bloom yet where you are.
http://bp1.blogger.com/_mR4eZ6Kvu0I/...4JUN07+A+X.jpg
http://bp2.blogger.com/_mR4eZ6Kvu0I/...4JUN07+B+X.jpg
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswik...iegata-JAY.jpg
http://www.paghat.com/iris-ensata.html

Blue flag iris has wider leaves then the two above, the leaves are more strap-like and the flowers are also beardless, but larger then the two above.* They tend to have a large rhizomatus root system and will grow in the water.* There are several species of blue flag with Iris virginica one that might grow where you are.
http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/irvipic.html
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/...s/blueflag.htm

You can read about some of the beardless iris species here.
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb...eardlessIrises

Newt

[mandp523]

Thank you so much for replying!* You are so good at identifying!!
The iris is the Louisiana Iris.* Only 2-3 bloomed.* They seemed to have the same foliage as the**** pickerel rush***** .* Thank you so much for getting these named!
Now, the first one, is a little harder.* I looked at the web sites that you gave, and have narrowed it down somewhat.* The "petals" of a sort look like the picture at http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/8292/1**
However, they are 2-toned with orange on the top and yellow on the bottom.* And, last night I saw another smaller one.* I think it is just starting to open.* The new one is light orange on the top.* Also, all 3 of them that are now blooming have a brown portion below the colors.* The website http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/po...ofia_nelso.php
has 2-toned flowers, just different colors (comparing mine with the ones in front in photo).
I think they are the red-hot pokers like you thought.* By the way, I looked more, and they are not in the water, just right next to it.* The folliage looks more like day lily folliage.
We have so many "new to us" flowers here.* We are having one surprise after another!*
Thank you so much for all of your help!* I hope to get a picture today.* If I do, can I send it in my next reply?* Then you can see more of what I am talking about!
Also, if I send some more pictures, can you identify them too?
Thank you so much!

[Newt]

You are so very welcome!* Thanks for the compliment.* :)

The iris is the Louisiana Iris. Only 2-3 bloomed. They seemed to have the same foliage as the pickerel rush.

Iris has strap-like leaves or grass-like leaves and pickerel rush has an elongaged heart-shaped leaf.* Maybe you put in the wrong name here?* Here's another view of pickerel rush.
http://hoskingnursery.com/library/pickerel.jpg

So is the "cont-type" flower you have pickerel rush?* I just realized maybe it was a typo and you meant a cone-type flower.

You said the first one is a little harder, but it sounds like you do have Kniphofia but just can't id exactly which variety it is.* Is that true?* If so, do a google and click on 'Images' and you'll see lots of them.* :)*

Of course you can post pictures in your reply.* Try and put a space between each picture as it makes it a bit easier to see them.* I'll try and id what you have.*

Newt

[mandp523]

Hello,
Thank you for replying!* I am enclosing a picture of the flowers around the pond.* The purple one, pickerel rush, is in the middle.* The orange and yellow flowers (2 of them) are on the right.* There is a new orange and yellow flower in the back behind the 2 older ones.* I think the lilies are day lilies.* Is that right?* The Louisiana Iris is no longer blooming (we just had 2 blooms).* Would you also be able to identify a bush that is flowering?* If so, I will send that picture next!*
The pond has been so pretty with all of the flowers!* Thank you for helping us to learn what they all are!
Maggie

[Newt]

Maggie, I'm glad to be able to help.

I'm a bit confused by your placement of what is on the right and what is on the left.* Your picture is a bit small so I put it on my desktop and enlarged it.* Looking at the picture, from left to right:

Orange with gold throat - Hemerocalis aka daylily (there are over 36,000 registered and named varieties of daylily).

Orange with yellow lower flower petals - Kniphofia aka red hot poker.

Yellow is another daylily.* If they bloom continually or on and off all summer. they could be 'Stella D'oro' daylilies.* They tend to be a gold color.* If they are truly more yellow with the same blooming habit, they could be 'Many Happy Returns' daylily.

The pickerel rush is in the pond with the purple flowers.

You mentioned:

The orange and yellow flowers (2 of them) are on the right. There is a new orange and yellow flower in the back behind the 2 older ones.

I'm thinking you mean there is a new Kniphofia flower and not a flower we haven't id'd yet.

I'd love to see the bush.* When plants are in bloom they are easier to id.* Please try and size your pics about 600 x 800 or a little larger so I can see more detail.

You never did answer me as to what a "cont-type" flower is and I'd love to know.* Was that just a typo?

Newt

[mandp523]

Hello,
Sorry for the delay in responding.* I had to go out-of-town.
I am going to try to send the picture of the bush that I am unsure of.* I know the flowers in the background are Rose of Sharon, but I don't know what the green bush, with white feathery flowers, is.* Thank you for the help!*
I am also going to send, in another post, a picture of another flower that is unknown to me!* It is green with red flowers.
Thank you very much for your help!
Maggie

[mandp523]

Hello,
Here is my other picture.* It is a green plant with red flower.* Thank you so much for all of the help!
Maggie

[Newt]

The picture of the bush with the white flowers is very small so I put it on my computer and enlarged it.* Unfortunately it blurrs out, but I think it might be Lysimachia clethroides aka goosneck loosestrife, which is a perennial and not a shrub.* It does cover alot of ground when it's happy so I could see you thinking it might be a shrub and is a very vigorous spreader.* It can quickly take over a garden.* Were there woody stems above ground over the winter?
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening...osestrife.aspx
http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/33630-product.html

There are other types of Lysimachia.* You can see some of them here.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening...274=2048&cp=19

Your second picture appears to be Crocosmia aka Montbretia.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening...ntguide&page=1

Btw, try making your pictures around 800 by 600 so we can see more detail.

Newt

[mandp523]

Hello,
Thank you so much!* You knew both of them!
I will try to send one more picture of a very tall green plant.* The plant is individual tall stalklike parts.* The forum has been telling me that 800x600 is too big.* But, I will try again!
Thank you so much, Maggie