society HIPS 2017 Notable Cultivars in Iris History 1 A presentation of important milestones in Tall Bearded Iris history 2 Iris PallIda Jean Baptiste Lamarck 1789 MEET THE IRIS FAMILY ID: 578464
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historic iris Preservation
society (HIPS)© 2017
Notable Cultivars in Iris History
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A presentation of important milestones in Tall Bearded Iris history.
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Iris PallIda
Jean Baptiste Lamarck 1789
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYIris pallida is one of the species irises that is the foundation of today’s tall bearded irises. It is native to the northern Mediterranean coast.
It brought height and new color blends into breeding lines.
M. Unser
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“Before 1900 irises and all others arose originally from two species – ‘I. pallida’ and ‘I. variegata’ – the first a tall stemmed plant native of Dalmata.”
N. Leslie Cave, The Iris, 1959
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“M.
Lémon began breeding irises in 1840 and was the first person to attempt to lift irises to an important garden flower.”
N. Leslie Cave, The Iris, 19595Slide6
Jacquesiana
Jean-Nicholas LÉmon 1840
MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Color effect a bright russet-crimson, velvety bordeaux bicolor.
P. Edinger
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Mme. Chereau
Jean Nicolas LÉmon 1844
MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A sensation in its day and the standard for
plicatas
for decades after its introduction.
M. Unser
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QUEEN OF MAY
john Salter 1859MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A very popular variety that was important in the breeding of early orchid pinks.
M Unser
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The date 1900 is important – it was in that year the tall, large-flowered, tetraploid species Mesopotamica, Amas and Trojan were imported to England. Previous varieties available were diploid.
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Amas
Sir Michael Foster 1885MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
‘
Amas’ was one of the first tetraploid irises to reach England; because it was hardy and widely grown, it is behind all our modern TB’s.
P. Edinger
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HER MAJESTY
Amos Perry 1903 IB
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYThe most popular pink of its day and for decades after.
M. Lowe
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Oriflamme
vilmorin 1904MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An early tetraploid eagerly seized upon by hybridizers to advance early TBs to greater height and substance.
P. Edinger
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Caterina
sir michael foster1909
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYAn important ancestor in breeding better blues.
M. Hess
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ALCAZAR
vilmorin 1910MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
At the time nearly every other garden iris of its day was a diploid. Alcazar was one of the first garden tetraploids; having a chromosome count of 2n=48. It re-presented a great advance over other garden irises of the time.
S. Tillou
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Souv. de Mme. Gaudichau
millet et fils 1914MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The very largest, finest and richest dark purple. Extremely popular for many many years, and heavily used in breeding for dark purples and blacks.
M. Unser
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DOMINION
A. J. BLISS 1917Perhaps the single most important iris in the tetraploid revolution. Behind virtually all of today’s Tall Bearded irises.
M. Unser
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Lent a. williamson
Williamson 1918MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An early tetraploid and renowned parent. Possibly the most commonly found old garden iris in the USA.
M. Unser
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Shekinah
grace sturtevant 1918MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A pale yellow pallida originated by the American hybridizer Miss Sturtevant.
P. Edinger
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CARDINAL
A. J. BLISS 1919MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A child of ‘Dominion’, it was instrumental in the breeding for later red irises.
M. Unser
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Ambassadeur
vilmorin 1920MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A popular tetraploid used in breeding red varieties and blends.
M. Unser
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Bruno
A. J. Bliss 1920MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Considered one of the finest irises on the market in its day. It was very important in breeding towards red irises.
P. Edinger
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Aphrodite
W.R. dykes 1922MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The best of the violet pinks. It is certain that, in purity of tone and brightness of color, it stands in a class by itself.
P. Edinger
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Conquistador
william mohr 1923MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An early American light blue that brought even more height into breeding lines.
M. Unser
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Frieda mohr
william mohr-sydney b. mitchell 1926MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A celebrated early pink with fabulous height and form. Very popular with growers and breeders alike.
M. Unser
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King tut
Hans P. Sass 1926MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A foundational variety for the Sass breeding lines. Led to wonder-ful new blends and color in reds, oranges, and browns. Parent of Dykes Medal Winner ‘Rameses’.
M. Unser
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“Second landmark: the arrival of the large-flowered yellow raised by W. R. Dykes (who did not live to see it bloom). His widow named it ‘W. R. Dykes’. It has had more influence on breeding of yellows than any other to date.”
N. Leslie Caves, Irises 1959
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W.R. DYKES
Dykes 1926MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An important variety in the evolution of yellows due to its good color and height.
M. Unser
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“Events began to move rapidly. In America E. B. Williamson and Miss Grace Sturtevant, in England Amos Perry, and in France M. Cayeux were raising more and better irises ---”
N. Leslie Caves, Irises 1959
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Dolly madison
e. B. Williamson 1927MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A sensation in its day. Tall stems of well formed blooms and clear pastel color tones.
M. Unser
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“1920-1926 – in California William Mohr and his friend Professor Sydney Mitchell succeeded in uniting the Oncocyculus iris gatesii with a plicata, ‘Parisiana’ and the child of this union was ‘William Mohr’, which brought new genes into TB breeding.”
N. Leslie Caves, Irises 1959
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Los angeles
william mohr-sydney b. mitchell1927MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Sister seedling of the plicata and 1927 Dykes Medal Winner ‘San Francisco’.
M. Unser
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PURISSIMA
William Mohr-sydney b. Mitchell 1927MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Known for its bloom size, height and purity of color, it is in the background of most white and blue irises around today.
M. Unser
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SAN FRANCISCO
william mohr-sydney b. Mitchell 1927MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A famous plicata and winner of the Dykes Medal for 1927. ‘San Francisco’ continues to win awards at iris shows in the 21st century.
M. Unser
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DAUNTLESS
clarence phillips Connell 1929
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYA widely celebrated red variety and winner of the Dykes Medal for 1929.
M. Unser
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Evolution
F. cayeux 1929MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An important ancestor for browns and blends. French Dykes Medal winner for 1933.
M. Unser
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Rameses
h. p. sass 1929MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Heavily used in breeding better blends and reds, and an important ancestor to Dave Hall’s flamingo pinks. Winner of the 1932 Dykes Medal.
M. Unser
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ALTA CALIFORNIA
William MOHR 1931MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Another step on the road to good tall yellows. Its large size and depth of color was a huge achievement for its time.
M. Unser
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gudrun
Katherine Dykes 1931
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYAn important step in breeding white varieties. Won the British Dykes Medal in 1931.
M. Unser
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JEAN CAYEUX
F. Cayeux 1931MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Famous brown iris that became an important parent for its color class. Exceptional color and form. Still popular with historic iris lovers.
M. Unser
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TIFFANY
H.R. Sass 1931MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A very popular variety and an early example of a yellow ground plicata. An ancestor of many of today’s rebloomers. The Sass brothers pioneered yellow ground plicatas as well as reblooming irises.
M. Unser
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Gloriole
H.R. Sass 1931MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Instrumental in breeding better light blues with good form and substance.
P. Edinger
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AMIGO
WILLIAMSON 1934MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The standard by which neglectas were measured for many years. Short, but with exceptional blooms.
M. Unser
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Happy days
sydney b. mitchell 1934MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Though no advance in form, it was very, very popular with iris growers and the gardening public for its height and bright, cheerful color.
M. Unser
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Madame louis aureau
F. cayeux 1934
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYAn early plicata from France that revolu-tionized the plicata pattern from that time forward. Excep-tional in size, form and performance.
M. Unser
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China maid
Carl millikin 1936
MEET THE IRIS FAMILYThe huge flowers, and great pattern and colors, led many breeders to use it in advancing blends.
M. Unser
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CiTY OF LINCOLN
H.P. Sass 1936MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Considered in its day to be the finest variegata ever produced.
M. Unser
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wabash
mary williamson 1936MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Early tetraploid amoena that set the standard for all that followed. Arguably one of the most popular irises ever produced and still eagerly sought after by iris lovers. Winner of the Dykes Medal for 1940.
M. Unser
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Far west
kleinsorge 1937MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Dr. Kleinsorge considered this his greatest breeding iris, and he used it heavily in many of his lines to produce better browns and blends.
P. Edinger
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Midwest gem
h. p. sass 1937MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Brought ‘lace’ into the gene pool for Tall Bearded Irises.
M. Hess
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Morocco rose
Loomis 1937MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An important early color break. It was a forerunner of the Flamingo pinks.
P. Edinger
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FAIR ELAINE
sydney b. MITCHELL 1938MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A yellow bitone that was very popular in its time and used widely in breeding by other hybridizers.
M. Unser
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GREAT LAKES
W. L. COUSINS 1938MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Dykes Medal Winner for 1942. The standard by which other blues of the day were measured and very important in the evolution of today’s varieties.
M. Unser
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sable
Paul cook 1938MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A giant leap forward in breeding better black irises.
M. Unser
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Prairie sunset
h. p. sass 1939MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A major advancement in breeding browns and oranges. Very popular and heavily used by other hybridizers. Dykes Medal Winner for 1943.
M. Unser
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Snow flurry
C. Rees 1939MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The first large perfect, white tetraploid to catch the iris community’s imagination. Con-sidered by some the most important iris ever created and behind the parentage of most all modern cultivars.
R. Figge
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melitza
elizabeth Nesmith 1940MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
M. Lowe
An early warm pink with tangerine beards. Led to the development of better pink, apricot, and salmon tones.
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Blue shimmer
j. sass 1941MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
M. Unser
A popular blue plicata that brought size and height to the class.
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TOBACCO ROAD
R. Kleinsorge1941MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Cooley’s Gardens catalog
A major advance in the brown color class and incredibly popular for many years afterward. It was so widespread it is hard to believe that it is believed extinct today.
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Elmohr
loomis 1942MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
M. Unser
First of the oncobreds to be hardy across a wide range of climates. Brought new genes into TB breeding.
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Lothario
Schreiners 1942MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
M. Hess
The best neglecta for many years. Though an American creation, its ancestry is almost entirely French.
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Moonlit sea
j. sass 1942MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
M. Unser
One of the first luminatas to become popular and an important ancestor to that pattern in today’s varieties.
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Dreamcastle
paul cook 1943MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A quantum leap forward in form for orchid pinks. It advanced this color class tremendously and its notable descendants include ‘Melodrama’ and ‘Amethyst Flame’.
M. Unser
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Extravaganza
geddes douglas 1943MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Instrumental in bringing dominant amoena genes into wider circulation while adding hard-iness and reliability of blooms in warm climates.
M. Unser
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Helen mcGregor
Robert J. Graves 1943MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The next step in breeding light blues. Added width and ruffles, and was very popular with hybridizers. Dykes Medal Winner for 1949.
A. Moran
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Ola Kala
J. sass 1943MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An intense, deep yellow, and winner of the Dykes Medal for 1948.
M. Unser
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Ranger
Kleinsorge 1943MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An early advance in reds, heavily used to advance the color class.
Cooley’s Gardens Catalog 1945
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Black forest
schreiner 1944MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Deeper, smoother color and a self-toned beard brought blacks to new heights.
P. Edinger
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CASCADE SPLENDOR
KLEINSORGE 1944MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A very widely used blend that led the way to many new color combinations.
M. Unser
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Chivalry
Jesse wills 1944MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Brought blues closer to ‘true blue’. An advance that was appreciated by many breeders. Dykes Medal Winner for 1947.
M. Unser
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Chantilly
David hall 1945MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Brought lacing into fashion and launched new directions for hybridizing.
M. Unser
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pinnacle
jean Stevens 1945MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A major break-through in color in the amoena pattern and a sensational garden flower.
M. Unser
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maytime
mrs. C. Whiting R. 1947MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
This lovely variety brought the amoena pattern into new color classes.
P. Edinger
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Spanish peaks
dr. P.a. loomis 1947MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A pure white with no yellow at the heart. Popular with growers and breeders.
P. Edinger
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CAHOKIA
eva FAUGHT
1948The premier blue of its day and one of the most important blues in iris breeding history. It laid the groundwork for more ruffles and larger size blooms.
M. Unser
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Ebony echo
chet tompkins 1948
Another step in the advancement of reds, which tended to lag behind other color classes.
M. Hess
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Pink formal
tell muhlEstein
1949
Added depth to the pink tones and was foundational in advancing this class.
R. Figge
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“Honor goes to David Hall for the pale pink irises with tangerine and vermilion beards.”
N. Leslie Cave, Iris 1959
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Ballerina
David hall 1951
Considered Dave Hall’s finest pink. Not only did it have exceptional form, it grew well every-where, including warm climates that many pinks did not like, and even re-bloomed there as well.
HIPS Archives
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Mary randall
orville fay 1951MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A large pink that captivated iris lovers. Widely used in breeding for many years. Dykes Medal Winner for 1954.
M. Unser
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pretender
paul cook 1951MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The first bi-color to bring blue-purple into the falls of variegatas instead of the traditional red or purple.
M. Unser
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PROGENITOR
paul cook1951MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An IB that was in-strumental in bring-ing genes from Iris reichenbachii
into reach of hybridizers. It changed every-thing and led to a new spectrum of possibilities for bi-colors.
M. Lowe
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Inca chief
grant Mitsch 1952MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
An intense deep golden brown that heralded a new era in the development of the brown varieties.
M. Unser
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WIDE WORLD
PAUL COOK 1954First of the ‘dark tops’ or reverse amoenas. A whole new direction for hybridizers to pursue.
M. Blazek83Slide84
June meredith
tell muhlestein 1954MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
SUPER-pink color! Probably the apex of Tell’s breeding and widely used by others.
WIKI - fl
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South pacific
kenneth d. smith 1954MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Blue, Blue, BLUE!!! Also a superb grower and bloomer. The form was on the plain side, but color purity was outstanding.
M. Lowe
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Unicorn
lloyd austin 1954MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The first of the Austin ‘space-age’ varieties, it launched horns, spoons and flounces into the eye of iris collectors.
M. Unser
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Dotted swiss
sass bros. 1956MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Not the last of the Sass blue/white plicatas, but definitely the best. Lovely flower form, clear colors, and a decent grower. Widely used, there-fore, as a parent.
B. Warburton
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taholah
Jim gibson 1956MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A key breeder in adding new colors to plicata lines.
M. Lowe
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Glittering Amber
melba hamblin 1957MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Advanced warm pink, cream and apricot blends, but also has a big effect on whites, browns and red blends too!
M. Lowe
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Whole cloth
paul cook 1958MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A major advance for amoenas, and widely used to add new colors and better form to them. Winner of the Dykes Medal in 1962.
M. Unser
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Emma cook
paul cook 1959MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A new type of pattern emerged with this variety, which came to be know as ‘the Emma Cook pattern’ for lack of a better term.
M. Unser
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ONE DESIRE
George Shoop 1960MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A strong, smooth pink with a self beard. Behind many later award winners such as ‘Vanity’ and ‘Beverly Sills’.
M. Unser
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ROCOCO
Schreiner 1960MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Combined great branching, vigor, flower placement, clean colors and loads of ruffles. Behind most blue plicatas that came after.
B. Williamson
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Rippling waters
orville fay 1961MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Winner of the Dykes Medal in 1966.
J. Graham
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WILD GINGER
jim Gibson 1962MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
A masterpiece from Jim Gibson, heavily used in the advanc-ement of new colors in plicatas.
M. Unser
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Stepping out
schreiner 1964MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
The plicata pattern brought to perfect-ion. Still topping popularity polls in the 21st century. Dykes Medal winner for 1968.
M. Unser
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CAMELOT ROSE
chet TOMPKINS 1965A gorgeous rose bitone that set the standard for its class for many years.
M. Unser
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SUNSET SNOWS
J. Stevens 1965The first approach to a pink amoena and an important ancestor in amoena breeding, as well as an excellent garden plant.
M. Unser
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vanity
ben Hager 1974MEET THE IRIS FAMILY
Top of the line for the pink color class. Dykes Medal winner for 1982, ‘Child of Pink Taffeta’, Dykes Medal Winner for 1975 and parent of 1985 Dykes Medal winner ‘Beverly Sills’.
M. Unser
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This is just a brief glimpse of a small handful of the iris varieties that were milestones along the road to our modern varieties.
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Iris history is rich with beautiful flowers and their stories, and is well deserving of preservation for future generations to enjoy.
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Historic Iris Preservation Society
www.historiciris.org
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