Intermediate Iris 'RASPBERRY ACRES'

This Intermediate Iris has a increase similar to weeds, virtually un-stoppable . Its bloom colouring is distinctively old fashioned and I think similar to 1950 dinnerware.
It's pod parentage is the Plicata Heritage and is from Jim Gibson's Award winning 1960 introduction 'Henna Stitches' described by Cooleys as 'A very bright combination of frosty white and gleaming henna-copper'.
Raspberry Acres, has an interesting pollen parent pedigree which is the seedling F4 .
Seedling F4 pod parent is Cretica a very old dainty small rose-purple form of I.pumila (a clone or natural Hybrid) that apparently was collected on the island of Crete by Atchley about 1929 and was registered by a vote of the Board of Directors of the AIS in 1952. A 32 chromosome Iris with the pla allele which gives this Iris ( Cretica) the ability take the plicata pattern of the tall bearded iris and transfer this when crossed to produce a first generation plicata in Median and Dwarf Irises, and undoubtedly is the genetic link which helps join the dots. The pollen parent of Seedling F4 is David Hall's 1951 Dykes Medal Tall Bearded Iris 'Cherie'. The most famous of all the Hall flamingo Pinks' a bright medium pink with large ruffled blooms.( a cross of sdlg.42-07 X Fantasy(from several generations of seedling involving Rameses, Dauntless, Jean Cayeux, Morocco Rose))

An iris which is genetic History plus, and in my opinion still has an interesting breeding potential for use in the median plicata field as I have noted that it does set seed. Great for the front of the border.

AIS Checklist 1969
RASPBERRY ACRES (W. Greenlee, R. 1968). Sdlg. 67-2. IB 18" E. W2RV-O. White ground plicata sanded raspberry pink and brown; white beard tipped brown. Henna Stitches X Greenlee rose-pink sdlg. (F4 Cretica x Cherie)., Greenlee 1968.

Colour enhanced photo's courtesy Cooleys Gardens catalogue 1955 and 1964 respectively

Raspberry Acres Photo Copyright Iris Hunter