We have all heard of the pot of gold that, according to legend, lies at the end of the rainbow, and haven’t we all wished we might journey to the rainbow’s end and try our luck at finding it?
The chances are that none of us ever will, but there is another gift the rainbow gives: its spectrum of color as found in growing the iris, whose very name is derived from the Greek goddess of the rainbow.
Few flowers have been more universally loved through the ages than the iris, and few flowers are native to a larger portion of the earth.
Not many gardeners realize that the iris we enjoy today were at one time wildflowers in some parts of the world.
Transplanted to the garden of someone who admired them, iris have improved their form and enlarged their color range.
First-Ever Recorded Iris In History
The first iris in recorded history, shown in a bas-relief in the tomb of an Egyptian Pharaoh around 1500 B.C., has been identified as an oncocyclus iris.
The theory has been advanced that the Biblical “lilies of the field” may well have been iris since no actual lilies are native to the Holy Land and since various forms of the oncocyclus iris are widely scattered throughout that region.
The iris appeared in the middle ages as the Fleur-de-lis, and the Mohammedans or decorating graves used a white iris known as Iris Albicans.
In early times, the iris was prized for the beauty of its flowers and its medicinal uses.
Today Iris germanica floretina is one of the sources of perfumed orris root.
There are many types of iris, and their lore is extensive and interesting.
However, we will consider only the bearded iris that takes its name from the beards or hairs found along the lower half of the three “falls” or sepals that hang downward.
Hybridizing Bearded Iris
The work of hybridizing bearded iris began about the middle of the 19th century by a Frenchman named Lemon. Vilmorin, Cayeux, and others carried on his work.
Then around the turn of the century, some larger-flowered species were introduced into England from Mesopotamia.
The use of these by Sir Michael Foster and those who followed him had a tremendous influence in producing the ancestors of the large-flowered iris we have in our gardens today.
It is interesting to note that Sir Michael Foster was not a nurseryman but a physician and a professor of physiology whose hobby was his garden and whose favorite flower was the iris.
His enthusiasm was so great that he inspired others to follow him. Among them was W. R. Dykes, whose contributions to the iris, not only in new varieties but also in the writing of such books as the world-renowned “The Genus Iris,” are unsurpassed.
It seems a strange coincidence that Sir Michael Foster did not live to see the introduction of many of his creations.
Also, the famous yellow iris, the parent of so many of the gorgeous yellows we have in our gardens today, was named for W. R. Dykes and introduced by his widow after his death.
New Iris Color And Form Trends
While much more could be said about the history of the bearded iris, let us briefly survey some of the new trends in color and form, which are the magnificent results of these modest early beginnings.
Today the color range of the iris includes the following:
- Red
- Bronze
- Copper
- Tan
- Brown
- Pink
- Crimson
- Chartreuse
- Apricot
- All shades of blue
- Near blacks
These also include blends and combinations of these colors—truly a rainbow of color whose diversity few other flowers, with the exception of orchids, can rival or surpass.
Hybridizing Iris Colors
Painstaking hybridizing goes into producing a new color or combination of colors. Only after years of trial and error is a new iris born.
In a sense, an iris hybridizer is an artist who deals with living material instead of working with colors on canvas.
His final achievement seems to change its color as the sun plays upon it, and because no photography or printing process can capture such beauty and depth that changing light gives, his work is best seen as it grows in a garden.
The modest purple or white “flags” of our grandmothers’ gardens have been transformed by hybridization into the myriad rainbow-tinted hues whose diversity leaves one breathless wonder.
Color Class “Purples”
The purples have been improved and enriched until today, and there are countless shades, each different from all the others.
Outstanding among them are the near blacks, which have a velvety texture and depth of sheen that rival the night sky.
Several gems in this color class have come from Schreiner Gardens, including:
- Storm Warning
- Black Castle
- Top Hat
- Tabu
- Congo
The former has a blue-black quality, while the last is tinged with dark red, indescribably rich and glowing when the sun shines through it.
A similar color tone is captured in Paul Cook’s Sable Night (Dykes Medal winner, 1954), described as “black-violet with a claret undertone.”
Dark Boatman (Cook, 1954) is another beautiful treasure in the black-violet class.
Black has long been the goal of hybridizers in other flowers too. We have all heard of the fabulous black orchid and the black tulips introduced in recent years.
These dark colors are magnificent in the garden and provide a dramatic accent to other colors.
Color Class “Yellows”
The yellows now include orange tones and an even newer shade described as “lemon ice,” which more and more is becoming chartreuse with a definite influence of green.
In fact, green is one of the goals of many hybridizers, and several recent introductions clearly show this influence, such as:
- Green Pastures (Heller, 1947)
- Green Ivory (Muhlestein, 1953)
- Green Hat – introduced by Murray and described as having green-chartreuse standards, falls of hazelnut-brown edged with the green color of the standards.
Color Class “Blues”
The blues are always among the most popular colors, and the range in this class is tremendous—from palest azure to deepest midnight.
Schreiners’ Blue Sapphire and Midnight Blue represent these two extremes. The former is receiving more favorable comments from various parts of the country than any other iris introduced by them.
Blue Sapphire has enormous flowers is gracefully branched, is a prolific grower, and has a delicate pastel coloring that is exquisite.
Other fine blues are the following:
- Great Lakes (Cousins. 1938), a Dykes Medal winner in 1952 that still enjoys tremendous popularity all over the country
- Chivalry (Wills, 1944)
- Lady Ilse (Smith, 1951) is described as “delft blue with a silver cast.”
- Peg Dabagh (Craig, 1948), a deep blue-violet
Color Class “Pinks”
The pinks have made tremendous advances in recent years.
David Hall did much to introduce the startling flamingo pinks, which have sharply contrasting tangerine beards.
More names are added to this delightful color class. Among these are the following:
- Cherie (Hall, 1947)
- Pink Formal (Mulestein, 1947)
- Pink Sensation (Hall, 1948)
- Paradise Pink (Lapham, 1950)
- Sprindrift (Loomis, 1944) and many others
One of the most startling introductions in this color class is Color Carnival (De Forest, 1949), described as “strawberry-pink with purple veinings near a tangerine beard.”
The demand for this iris is tremendous, and I am fortunate to have added it to my own collection this year.
Color Class “Browns”
The browns, a color development unrivaled by any other flower genera except possible orchids, include shades of copper, bronze, tan, and beige shades.
- Casa Morena (De Forest, 1943) has long been a favorite in this color class, described as “glowing coppery chestnut-brown.
- Cordovan (Kleinsorge, 1946) is another rich brown, and its introducer, Dr. Kleinsorge, has done great work with this color.
- Pretty Quadroon, introduced by him in 1949, a smooth, shining brown, is another popular favorite.
- Argus Pheasant (De Forest, 1948)
- Bronze Bell, a startling rich-toned new brown iris, was introduced by the Schreiners.
Its rich coloring captures the metallic sheen of the beautiful bronze work done in the Orient, carrying with it the feeling of a temple bell.
Watch for it as it represents another significant step forward in this rich color class.
“Plicatas”
Plicatas have always been a particular favorite of mine and there are many extraordinarily beautiful ones from which to choose.
- Blue Shimmer (Sass, 1942) has held a high place in public favor for many years and is still popular
- Firecracker (Hall, 1943) is magnificent with burgundy-red markings on yellow
- Minnie Colquitt (Sass, 1942) has wine-purple stitching on white
- King’s Jester and Harlequin were introduced by Mrs. Jean Stevens of New Zealand
These capture the jeweled brilliance of a butterfly’s wing and are supreme achievements in color artistry.
“New Forms”
New forms are also appearing in the iris world.
Recent years have brought forth flowers with crinkled petals, giving the effect of crepe paper.
One of Hall’s pinks, Chantilly achieved some of this character, as did Pink Formal (Muhlestein, 1949) and, more recently, Crispette, Carmela, and Crinkled Ribbon (Schreiner).
Horned Iris Variety
Lloyd Austin of Rainbow Hybridizing Gardens in California startled the iris world when in 1954, he introduced the first of a new race called the horned iris.
Instead of lying flat on the falls, in these, the beard projects outwards in a curving fashion, resembling miniature horns.
Unicorn was the first of this type, followed by Plumed Delight, and Mulberry Snow.
“Oncobreds”
Oncobreds have a special appeal to me, and I cannot close a discussion of the bearded iris without mentioning them.
They are hybrids produced by crossing a tall bearded iris with one of the oncocyclus iris native to Asia Minor and the Holy Land.
The oncocyclus have flowers that arc strangely mottled and veined in rich colors resembling those in a Persian rug, and these exotic markings are transmitted to their progeny.
Clarence White and Tom Craig in California are doing outstanding work in the production of new and ever more glamorous oncobreds that are “out of this world.”
I might mention the following hybrids:
- Joppa Parrot – standards are mauvely streaked with mulberry and whose falls are bronze-gold streaked with cinnamon-red and mulberry black
- Asoka of Nepal – mauve-veined violet, with falls that are olive-veined wine-russet and splashed purple
- Coronation Purple – combining lilac, gold, coronation purple, rose-maroon, and palm-leaf green
- Beisan Aga – purple-black
- Oyez – a little jewel in pinkish-white etched with rose, falls pinkish-cream veined with maroon.
I have barely scratched the surface of a subject that is dear to the heart of all of us who love iris.
If you haven’t grown them, you are missing much beauty and pleasure.
Why not let the Goddess of the Rainbow bring a gift to your garden?