Orchid-Colored Irises in My Garden

By Renee Fraser

My garden is filled with hot-colored roses and lilies, and although I love the oranges, yellows, and reds, they can be pretty ovewhelming on a hot Southern Californa day.

My internet gardening buddy Hoovb, who writes the gardening blog  Piece of Eden, suggested some purple or lavendar to cool it down.  Now I know I have strange tastes, but I don't care for purple, and I really don't care much at all for purple-blues with salmon-orange, the dominant color in my garden.  But she was onto something, and I thought about it until one day I saw Persian Berry in bloom at a nursery. What color is that? Using the most universally recognized color chart in the western world, the Crayola 64 Count Crayons, I decided the color was ORCHID. Cool pink, warm lavendar, that color.  Orchid to tame my hot colors.

Fortunately, there are a multitude of orchid-colored irises and each is more beautiful than the last.  Soon I was on the hunt for 'Jennifer Rebecca', which reblooms here in Southern California.  It took a long time to become established in my garden, and it has been moved from spot to spot, mercilessly, until it finally found its home right between two screaming salmon-orange roses.

'Jennifer Rebecca' Zurbrigg 1984,  reblooming iris with 'Marmalade Skies' floribunda rose

'Jennifer's' beard is the same color as the rose.  What a stroke of luck!

And here is the inspiration iris, 'Persian Berry'.  It looks very nice with yellow, and like 'Jennifer', it has a nice orange beard.  

'Persian Berry' Gaulter 1976

I have 'Persian Berry' in a bed with the pale yellow David Austin rose 'Allux Symphony' (aka Symphony), foxgloves, and dark reddish-violet violas.  I await 'Storm Rider' from Rick Tasco at Superstition Iris Gardens to center between the two roses.

'Storm Rider' Tasco 2013

To the right of 'Allux Symphony' I have 'Plum Pretty Whiskers', which reblooms for me.  It's a lovely shorter iris, perfect for the front of the bed.  The deep color in its falls was the inspiration for the dark violas and 'Storm Rider'.

'Plum Pretty Whiskers' Spoon 2003

Late-bloomer 'Rhinelander' is the latest-blooming of my orchid-colored irises.  It has yet to bloom this year, so this photo is from last year.

'Rhinelander' Schreiner 2006

I just couldn't help myself, so last season I got two more orchid-colored irises, even though (as usual) I didn't have good spots for them.  I ordered 'Orchid Pinstripe' because it is so unusual, and Randy Squires of the San Fernando Valley Iris Society gave me 'Enchanter', a huge iris that towers over the others.  I am anxiously awaiting their first blooms.  This year, however, I resisted buying any new orchid-colored irises, even though there were a few that sorely tempted me.

Do you grow any orchid-colored irises?  Or is there another color that you just cannot resist, regardless of how many you already have?  Let us know which you love best in the comments section.

Rebloom:Rough Days in Kentucky

by Betty Wilkerson

Those who follow my program may know that 2012 was not kind to me.  I was derailed for awhile due to  back problems.  Before the frosts hit, my physical trainer took me for a walk around the newest section of the garden.

These beds were built in 2010 from an old pasture which had been lawn for over five years.  When the beds were built, I added organic material, lime, phosphate rock and green sand.  I applied a little under the recommended amounts, due to my fear of rot.  These beds have soaker hoses in place and are covered with a very good quality landscape fabric.  No fertilizer was applied during the 2012 growing season, and no supplemental water was provided.  Still, we had very good rainfall.

As I rounded the back side of the garden, it was good to see several stalks blooming on 'My Friend Jonathan'.  Stalks of 'Lemon Reflection' created good contrast for 'My Friend Jonathan.'  Form is a bit more tailored on 'Lemon Reflection,' but it is a good parent and tends to pass on good branching.  It will usually produce fall rebloom with minimum care.

'My Friend Jonathan' (Bernice Miller 1994) 

'Lemon Reflection' (Raymond Smith 78)

Several seedlings had open blooms.  One was 1907-10Re, the purple one that bloomed the entire summer of  2011. It's a sibling to 'Cool Character' which I hope to introduce in 2013.

1907-10Re (Wilkerson Seedling) 

'Cool Character' (1907-01Re) (Wilkerson Seedling) 

They are children of 'Blatant' X 'All Revved Up. This cross produced twelve reblooming seedlings, including my only glaciata.

'Blatant' (Byers 1990)

'All Revved Up' (Wilkerson 2006)

Another seedling in bloom was 2025-01Re.  It's provided wonderful and consistent fall bloom for the past four years.  

2025-01Re (Wilkerson Seedling) 

2025-01Re is from the cross of 'Total Recall' X 1625-01Re.  1625-01Re is from 'Star Gate' x ('Violet Returns' X Breakers.) 1625-01Re can rebloom in August and has been a strong parent for rebloom.  

'Total Recall' (Hager 1992)

1625-01Re (Wilkerson Seedling) 

Another bed, built in 2009,  is filled with irises that should be able to bloom in the summer, according to research.  The bed was totally ignored in 2012.  It has very good landscape fabric covering the bed, but some weeds sprout in the iris clumps.  Not only was I unable to water or fertilize this bed, but I was also unable to weed it.  Both 'Over and Over' and 'Star Gate' put up valiant stalks among the weeds.  One would have thought they were lavished with care!   

'Over and Over' (Innerst 2001)

'Star Gate' (Wilkerson 2005) 

October brought maiden bloom on 2542-03Re, a seedling grown in a three gallon pot.  It's from 'Vanishing Act' X 'Over and Over'.  Early in the spring, four of the strongest seedlings from this cross were planted into 3 gallon pots, since I was unable to walk to the existing seedling bed.  As happy as I was to see this seedling bloom, it is only a success in the sense that it proved I could get rebloom from either/or both 'Vanishing Act' and 'Over and Over.'  I hoped to retain the form, branching and height of 'Vanishing Act' while keeping the rebloom of 'Over and Over.' There was some measure of success, but it will take a few years to determine the seedling's potential.  At first glance, the bloom is too big for the stalk and the substance is lacking.  The latter is no surprise.  Maybe spring bloom will temper this seedling's over achievement!  Nothing will be certain until it's been grown in the ground.  The siblings are expected to bloom later this spring.

2542-03Re (Wilkerson seedling) 

'Vanishing Act' (Wilkerson 2004)

Feel free to ask any questions about my garden or my breeding program.  I will answer all questions to the best of my ability.

Additional information about hybridizing, and general information about irises can be found @ the following:
www.irises.org-American Iris Society. (iris register (fee required) must now be accessed through the main site.)
www.hort.net/lists/-Archives for Iris Talk, Iris Photos and many other plant lists. I've been an active member of both these lists since early in 1999.  Interesting and informative source for research.
www.rebloomingiris.com--Reblooming Iris Society (great society publishes a twice annual 'Recorder.'

Favorite Victoria Convention Pictures

By Ron Killingsworth


The digital camera is the best thing since the microwave oven and it makes it so easy to take too many pictures and then just throw out the bad ones.  The problem is there are too many good ones!  Here are a few photos I took during the American Iris Society Convention in 2011 in Victoria, Canada.

At iris conventions, like the one taking place this week in Dallas, the attendees have the opportunity to visit numerous gardens. Many are absolutely breathtaking, and give plenty of opportunities to take photographs.

Water garden with irises at Government House, Victoria, Canada

Butchart Gardens view, Victoria, Canada

Butchart Gardens view, Victoria, Canada

As a lover of water irises, I had plenty of opportunities to enjoy them.

My sweetheart of over 50 years and wife for 47 years at a pond view in Finnerty Gardens, Victoria, Canada

Irises were not the only specimens worth looking at.  Fantastic flower beds greeted us at every garden.

Government House gardens in Victoria, Canada

Hatley Park Gardens in Victoria, Canada

Beautiful architecture and formal gardens also beckoned.

Hatley Park Gardens in Victoria, Canada

Hatley Park Gardens and buildings in Victoria, Canada

Have you been to an American Iris Society Convention?  This year is a special year for conventions because you can attend the American Iris Society convention at Dallas, TX, from April 15-20 and stay for the Society for Louisiana Irises convention in the same hotel from April 20-23.   Log on to the Iris Society of Dallas for more information on both conventions, and think about your vacation plans for 2014.

Iris Classics: 'Crimson King'

By Mike Unser

It's early spring here in the PNW, the daffodils are showing off, our native ribes are in full bloom and attracting a complement of hummingbirds, and the tulips are just showing a touch of color. As the first bits of green start to show on the trees another early bloomer is showing off as well - our old friend 'Crimson King' (Barr, 1893). The first bearded iris of the season here in Olympia is often 'Crimson King'. There is an old Victorian home that has been turned into apartments not far from my office, and the front has a south facing brick foundation in a sheltered area where this classic old variety has been growing for years. It has never been divided and reset in the 13 years I have been watching it, yet every spring it sends up a multitude of bloom stalks.



And what beautiful bloomstalks they are! Before a flower even shows they are adding color to the garden with their red-violet-tinged spathes. Soon enough the black buds burst forth into flowers of a beautiful shade of bright purple. Classed as an Intermediate Bearded iris, it grows around 2 feet in height in my garden. The Cornell Extension Bulletin 112 describes it as

"Color effect an intense violet-purple self. Standards pansy violet, lighter to yellowish claw and wavy along the edge. Falls continga purple, almost velvety in texture. The veining is boldly spaced on whitish outer haft, while those on Kochii are not so prominent. Its fragrance is good, its color very intense, and its spathe valves deeply tinged. The persistent green foliage is attractive in winter."

The substance is a bit lacking, but it is more than made up for with another trait - a tendency for repeat blooming.



When it is well established and happy, a clump of 'Crimson King' is likely to send up bloomstalks over a very long period of time. One after another the stalks send out blooms, lasting an entire two-month period in my garden one year. In warm climates it has been known to rebloom in summer, as well as showing up unexpectedly at other times of the year. One of the hardiest and most carefree irises known, this is a favorite of many collectors of historics, and is easy to find. Hybridizers have since created many varieties that fit the term crimson better, but there is no doubt this one remains the King of early spring.

Jim McWhirter: An Iris Eye for Style

By Bryce Williamson  

When iris season starts, as it is about to do in Northern California, I find I miss Jim McWhirter not only for his stylish irises, but even more because he was so much fun.  He not only had an eye for good irises, but also for decorating and collecting. He helped me to become me addicted to collecting iris artifacts, though I never had the luck he had in discovering wonderful antiques with iris motifs.

Jim McWhirter and his partner, Don Denney, first appeared at a Spring Regional Convention in 1972. They had become interested in irises and, in the company of Frances and Larry Gaulter and Vi and Walt Luihn, came down for the Sunday events at the meeting. Soon thereafter, they found a delightful old Victorian cottage on acreage in Hayward where they could grow irises. They revived the name Cottage Gardens, which had been first used by Ethel and George Johnson.  By the 1978 National, they had seedlings ready for introduction. At that meeting, the AIS was introduced to Jim McWhirter's iris eye for style.

Jim's first truly famous introduction was 'Tequila Sunrise', a cross of Plough's 'Amigo's Guitar' to a Gaulter seedling (Jim's connection to the Gaulters would last the lifetimes of Larry and Frances).

'Tequila Sunrise'

Jim's first big award winner with the aptly named 'Brandy' from the wide cross of 'Warlord' and 'Pink Sleigh'. It would go on to win an Award of Merit and was on the Dykes runner-ups list as long as it was eligible. Other hybridizers would appreciate the diverse genetic makeup of 'Brandy' and used it in hybridizing.

'Brandy"

Cottage Gardens would later move to Sebastopol.  But Sebastopol, despite the connection to Luther Burbank, proved to be a poor place to grow irises and threw Jim's hybridizing off.   As a result, he moved to Wilton for the superior climate, and released a wide blue-white out of Opal Brown's 'Light Fantastic' X to Larry Gaulter’s 'Carriage Trade'. Jim had the seedling for many years—we had all long admired its wonderful ruffled and wide form—but Jim had keep it back from commerce due to its tight branching. He finally released it as 'Winterscape', a name I suggested to him. That was a wise move, as the tight branching did not pass to its children and 'Winterscape' became a wonderful parent for others, including hybridizers Duane Meek and Joe Gatty.

"Winterscape'

By the time of his death, Jim was becoming increasingly interested in whites and blues. 'America's Cup' was an Award of Merit winner for him and I still grow two of his later whites, 'Helen Cochran' and 'Mother Marshmallow'. By that point, Cottage Gardens had moved into the old Keppel garden in Stockton and was called Stockton Gardens.

'America's Cup'

I always liked his 'Great Gatsby', even better than 'World Premier', and continue to grow it for its velvet finished falls.

"Great Gatsby"

Once a hybridizer dies, their irises often fall out of commerce.  Jim's irises are no exception. Every once and a while, though, I find 'Tequila Sunrise' listed in general garden catalogues or in the the boxes of irises that magically appear in the local nurseries in August.  Sadly, I can't find a single garden still listing the metallic violet 'Holly Golightly' (Jim had wanted to name it Elizabeth Taylor, but Taylor wanted money for the right to use her name).

'Holly Golightly'

Aside from his own hybridizing program, Jim also selected Don Denney's last introductions. As a matter of fact,  Jim and Abram Feuerstein took on the last of the Gaulter seedlings and released the last Gaulter introduction, 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', which went on to win an Award of Merit. It's a shame that Jim died so early, for I'm certain that when Virginia Messick passed on, there were still some seedlings worthy of introduction, and if Jim had lived, he would have used his eye for style to find, name, and introduce them.  I miss Jim for his fun personality and for his iris eye for style, and I am happy to have his irises to remember him by.

The Korean Iris by Jim Murrain

    Of course it's not the only Iris species native to the Korean peninsula but it is the only Iris named for Korea. Iris koreana is a bright little thing. If you are looking for a small Iris that is not too small, and not too large, Iris koreana is just right. The leaves are wide enough that it won't be mistaken for grass but narrow enough to be in perfect proportion to the stalk and flowers. It also remains semi-evergreen so you needn't fret about finding it come spring.

    A clean bright yellow with no brassy tones it shines in the garden. In a lightly shaded bed or maybe morning sun and afternoon shade it will reliably perform its dance. At about seven inches in flower it remains dainty but the strong color of the flowers make sure you will notice it when in bloom. In Kansas City it flowers with the MDBs, Miniature Dwarf Bearded irises.

    Iris koreana is a recent introduction to North America. Darrell Probst first collected it in 1997 on the South Korean shore of the East China Sea. It is related to the tiny Iris minutoaurea which flowers at only three inches but shares its big sisters bright color. Although equally easy to grow it is also easy to lose in the garden because it is so tiny.

    Joe Pye Weed's Garden has introduced a vigorous and free flowering form of Iris koreana named 'Firefly Shuffle'. With heavy bloom and consistent increase you will soon be able to share this "just right" iris with your friends. 

Exploring the Mysteries of Bloom Season & Height: The Louisianas

By Ron Killingsworth


Recent posts have discussed the history of classifying irises by bloom time and the related issue of height, along with the change in naming the different types of irises (here).   Now we shall discuss Louisiana (LA) irises.  Their full season is about a month and a half to two months.  The season begins during the end of the Tall Bearded iris bloom season and continues for two to three weeks afterward, so they are a great season extender if you love irises. In Louisiana, the New Orleans area starts the show with bloom beginning the first of April. In the NW part of Louisiana they bloom from mid-April to mid-May. In upper state New York they bloom in late June.


LA iris bloom time designations include early, mid and late season.  Early bloomers normally bloom the first two to three weeks of the season, followed by mid season blooms from three to six weeks and then finally the late bloomers from six weeks to finish. There are some LA irises that are registered as blooming somewhere between these designations- such as mid-late and early-mid-season.  Some are registered as VL for very late in the season.  The time of the season in which the particular cultivar blooms is determined by the person registering the iris, and that depends on where they live and when bloom time begins in that area.  So there is no hard-and-fast rule about when LA irises will bloom in your neck of the woods.


'Clyde Redmond' is a dependable early bloomer.

'Clyde Redmond' (Charles Arny - 1970)   Mary Swords DeBallion Award 1974

'Miss Gertie's Bonnet' is a mid-season bloomer.

'Miss Gertie's Bonnet' (Dormon Haymon -1999)  

The popular and widely distributed iris  'Black Gamecock' blooms very late in the season.

'Black Gamecock' (Frank Chowning 1978)  

Of the 2400 or so registered LA irises, 526 are registered as early season, 309 are registered as early-mid season, 1423 are registered as mid season, 415 are registered as mid to late season, and 104 are registered as late season.

The only problem bloom season causes for me is when I want to hybridize a late blooming LA iris with an early blooming LA iris. I can save pollen from the early bloomer and cross it to the late bloomer but it is almost impossible to save pollen from the late bloomer to use on an early bloomer the following year.  Most late blooming LA irises have the species iris brevicaulis in their genealogy and many of these late bloomers display a characteristic of iris brevicaulis - a tendency to bloom down in the foliage. 'Black Gamecock' is a late bloomer and it often has blooms deep within the foliage, which also tends to fall over when the bloom stem is heavily loaded with blooms - another characteristic of iris brevicaulis.



How are LA irises measured and how tall are they?   They have a wide range of heights, measured from the rhizome to the top of the bloom stem.  'Black Gamecock' is registered as 24".  'Little Rock Skies' (F. Chowning 1978) is another late bloomer and is registered as 28".

'Little Rock Skies' (Frank Chowning 1978)  Late bloomer registered as 28"

Among the most useful and garden-worthy characteristics of LA irises is their diversity of size.  Unlike bearded irises, which are divided into many size divisions, all LA irises are entered into the same division in iris shows.  That is why they are always placed on a very low table or directly on the floor of the show room.  Judges are then faced with some varieties that are as small as 24" as well as some varieties that are as tall as the judges!

In a quick search, I found 81 LA irises registered at 24-30".  I found two registered at 60".  But I have seen LA irises taller than me at 76"!  These are usually the species iris giganticaerulea.  

Benny Trahan and Pat Norvell with Iris Giganticaerula found in the marshes of south LA

Most modern hybrids of LA irises range from 30 to 50". The beauty of such a wide height range is you can plant irises of smaller size in front of irises that tend to be taller.  By also choosing the irises by bloom season, you can have early tall bloomers in the back of your iris beds and late blooming shorter irises in the front of your beds.

Remember that the bloom season listed on the registration is determined by the person registering the iris based on experience in his or her part of the country.  The iris may not bloom at exactly the same time in your part of the country, so you may want to take that into account when you are planning out your garden.  And don't forget that LA irises do not need to be planted in ponds, they do well in most garden conditions as long as they have adequate water.

You can learn more about LA irises at Society for Louisiana Irises.

Companion Planting with Irises: Thornbird

By Renee Fraser



Irises became my favorite flower because they are so difficult to kill. Once I began gardening in earnest, and learned how not to kill a wider variety of plants, color coordination and bloom time became important considerations. I am still a novice at companion planting in the garden, but Susanne Spicker, our newest blogger here on the AIS World of Irises, is an old hand at it. Her background in interior design and her natural flair for color make her a master at companion planting, so I asked her to come up with some ideas for a few irises that can be difficult to work with in the garden.

Our first iris for this series is the award winning space-ager 'Thornbird'.  Space-agers are irises in which the beard grows away from the flower fall. They can grow appendages such as flounces or spoons. 'Thornbird' also has a color you either love or hate: sort of a yellowy beige with a purplish cast to it.  It is a tough iris to work with in the garden, despite its many awards, including an Honorable Mention in 1991; an Award of Merit in 1993; the Wister Medal in 1996; and the American Dykes Medal in 1997. 

'Thornbird' Byers, 1989  Photo by Susanne Spicker

Susanne puts violets and purples with 'Thornbird' to exquisite effect. The violet companion plants bring out the purply overlay of Thornbird's falls and beard.  From top left in the photo below she uses: clematis Jackmanii, 'Thornbird', allium Giant Gladiator, gladiola Green Star, pansy Giant Rose Series, tall bearded iris 'Boysenberry Buttercup' with 'Thornbird', lilac President Grevy, pulsitillia, columbine yellow McKanna Giant, tall bearded iris 'County Cork', and tall bearded iris 'Master Touch'. All of these plants bloomed in her Utah garden during the iris bloom period. Susanne plants glads every two weeks to be sure she has plenty for cutting and for complementing her irises.

Purple works just as well with this iris. Here Susanne shows the same companion irises along with peonies, pansies, and lupines with the star of the show.

I like to use a dominant color in my beds, since I am a bit color-challenged.  This is a plan I have for a silver and gold bed using blue fescue, baumea rubiginosa 'variegata' (that spiky grass in the center photo), dusty miller, bunnytail grass, and artemisia.  I first saw the combination on a San Fernando Valley Iris Society Trek and I have never been able to get it out of my mind.

We should not forget that irises are excellent stand-alone plants in a landscape as well. With that in mind, we leave you with a spectacular clump shot of 'Thornbird' from Kaska Cholewa's garden in Poland.

Photo copyright Kaska Cholewa

Do you grow 'Thornbird' in your garden? Do you have it all by itself, planted with other irises, or with companion plantings? What would you like to see planted with 'Thornbird'?