By Bryce Williamson
It is exciting to go to an iris show
or an iris garden, view all the lovely flowers, and then decide to add modern
varieties to the garden. Like most things there is a “however” attached. And
for the new-to-iris gardener the “however” is what to acquire. The issue is
further complicated by new iris varieties selling for large sums of money.
Thinking about this problem, I came up with a list of 15 Tall Bearded irises
that have proven their worth over time and are reasonably priced. While the
list, presented in alphabetical order, is not perfect, it is a starting point for an iris collection.
 |
| Photo by Rick Tasco |
‘Absolute
Treasure’ (Tasco, 2006). One of the huge reasons for growing irises is that
they provide great blues and violets in a garden, color rarely seen in other
flower families. This wonderful light blue approaches true blue; it is an award
winner with an Award of Merit in 2010 and a Wister Medal in 2013. What I like
most about Absolute Treasure is whether I see it on a one year planting, or in
multi-year clumps, this variety produces tall, well branched stalks that hold
up the large, ruffled flowers without needing to be staked.
 |
| Photo by Rick Tasco |
‘Arctic
Express’ (Gatty, 96). Joe Gatty produced so many lovely irises and had such a
great eye for form. It is no surprise, then, that Arctic Express is noted for
its deep ruffling. An American Iris Society Award of Merit winner in 2000, this
is the gold standard for current whites. I am a strong believer of the
importance of white flowers in the garden; an older variety that has also been
proven to be time tested is “Carriage Trade” (Gaulter, 1977).
 |
| Photo by Rick Tasco |
‘Decadence’ (Blyth, 20). An iris creation from
Australia that is noted for being loud, brassy, and ever so colorful. Visitors
to a garden always are immediately drawn to this variety with its large, laced
flowers. This is not one of those varieties that you have to be a connoisseur
to identify—it attracts attention to itself and it is a one of a kind.
Decadence won an Award of Merit and the Wister Medal. This bright and ever so
colorful iris will become an instant favorite.
 |
| Photo by Jeanette Graham |
‘Dusky Challenger’ (Schreiner 1986). I first saw
Dusky Challenger as a seedling in Oregon where it was attracting attention.
With good form and superior branching, it made a climb up the American Iris
Society award—Award of Merit in and Dykes Medal in 1992. To burnish its luster,
Dusky Challenger has occupied the top position on the AIS Popularity Poll for
years; it was quickly voted into the Tall Bearded Iris Society’s Hall of Fame.
 |
| Photo by Rick Tasco |
‘Golden Panther’ (Tasco, 2000). When I first grew
this iris, I thought it was only OK, but it was also growing in the shadow of a
huge pine tree. Moved to a better location, it has thrived. An Award of Merit
winner in 2004, Wister Medal in 2006 and the Dykes Medal in 2009, I do find
that its color varies from garden to garden and season to season. Sometimes it
is clearly a gold and other years it is much more bronze. In either case, it is
a bright beacon in the yard with easy growth habits.
 |
| Photo by Paul Black |
‘Happenstance’ (Keppel 2000). When putting
together a list of irises for the beginning gardener, I knew that I would want
to have a pink on the list. At the time of its introduction this iris received
good press and was well liked—an Award of Merit in 2004 and a Wister Medal in
2006. Ten years later it is still very popular due to its strong stalks, good
growth habits, and ability to bloom in many areas of the country. Too often
pinks are not the best of garden plants.
 |
| Photo by Evan Underwood |
'Jesse’s Song' (Williamson, 1983). Not the boldest
colored plicata in the world, but time has shown this variety to be a great
garden iris. Winning an Award of Merit and then a Dykes Medal in 1989, Jesse’s
Song has been a hit in the garden and at iris shows. Last year it was in second
place on the American Iris Society’s Popularity Poll and it tied for the most
Queen of the Show awards in the US. One of the first irises voted into the Tall
Bearded Iris Society Hall of Fame, Jesse’s Songs likes to grow and bloom in all
parts of the country.
 |
| Photo by Evan Underwood |
'Lady Friend' (Ghio, 1981). When it was introduced,
Lady Friend did get some attention, winning an Award of Merit in 1985; however,
while many of the other Award of Merit winners from that year have disappeared
from gardens, Lady Friend is still widely grown and continues to be on the AIS
Popularity Poll. The main reason is that it is a variety that grows and blooms
with ease; secondary reason is that it is one of those unique colors. For those
reasons, it is widely grown and appreciated.
 |
| Photo by Barbara Nicodemus |
'Ozark Rebounder' (Nicodemus, 2003). I was
searching for a dark-to-black iris for this list and this became my selection
for three reasons. First, Ozark Rebounder has good form in the dark violet to
near black color range; second, it grows well around the country; and the third
reason is that it reblooms. With reasonable garden culture, it will bloom again
in the fall, providing a splash of color. An Award of Merit winner.
 |
| Photo by Marilyn Campbell |
'Persian Berry' (Gaulter, 1977). Larry Gaulter is
in my opinion one of the underrated hybridizers with four wonderful, still
grown, creations to his credit—Laurie, Mary Frances, Carriage Trade, and
Persian Berry. And Persian Berry, winner of an Award of Merit, is one of those
unique varieties—it has never been improved upon. With its lovely color and its
distinctive shoulders, it is easy to spot this variety from a far. A home about
3 miles from me has a clump in the front yard and once it blooms, even from a
distance, I can spot it. Very distinctive.
 |
| Photo by Amazing Iris Garden |
‘Queen in Calico’ (Gibson, 1980). Another Award
of Merit winner, this “pink” plicata ranks high in that color class. Still
lovely these many years after its introduction, I been told that in some
climates it may not perform at its best. I recommend talking to a local iris
grower or your local club before buying this one, but if it will grow and bloom
for you, you will be more than happy.
 |
| Photo by Paul Black |
‘Queen’s Circle’ (Kerr, 2000). The Emma Cook
pattern had been around for years, but Fred Kerr took that pattern to new
heights in this wonderful creation. I consider this one of the best Dykes Medal
winning irises in recent years. With lovely, large, ruffled flowers, fine
branching and bud count, the plants grow and bloom all around the country
regardless of climate. No wonder it won a Wister Medal in 2006 before winning
the Dykes in 2007.
 |
| Photo by Rick Tasco |
‘Stairway to Heaven’ (Lauer, 1993). Softly
colored, but there is nothing soft about the stalks and plants. A Dykes winner
in 2000, Stairway to Heaven grows and blooms with ease, making large clumps in
no time. Branching and bud count are also good as this dependable and easy to
please garden iris. Popular in all areas, this has been voted into the Tall
Bearded Iris Society’s Hall of Fame.
 |
| Photo byJeannette Graham |
‘That’s All Folks’ (Maryott, 2005). Bill
Maryott’s last iris introduction before he transformed himself into a daylily
hybridizer and the last one was the one that swept the awards. Winning a Wister
Medal in 2011 and the Dykes in 2013, That’s All Folks is noted for strong
growth, ramrod straight stalks, and huge, colorful flowers. I am a firm
believer in yellows in the garden since they bring a shaft of sunlight even on
inclement days. These eye catching flowers will attract attention in the garden.
 |
| Photo by Steve Sayers |
‘Thornbird’ (Byers, 1989). Lloyd Austin, with his
Space Age irises, changed flower form, but it was Monty Byers who stormed the
American Iris Society and ended winning three Dykes Medals with Space Age
varieties. Thornbird won an Award of Merit in 1993 and the Dykes in 1997. It is
also a Tall Bearded Iris Society Hall of Fame iris. It is one of those
varieties that the colors can vary widely from area to area and climate to
climate, but it is always a garden favorite.
My thanks for the photographers who contributed
to this blog. Without their help, it could not have been finished. Lloyd
Austin, mentioned in the comments about the iris Thornbird, will be the subject
of three upcoming blogs about space age irises, their creation, and a fourth
blog will discuss those irises today.
