Tall Bearded iris 'SMOKE RINGS'

'Smoke Rings' is a great parent, fertile both ways, involved in the parentage of over 60 registered irises, hybridised by one of thee great pioneers of modern day plicata breeding Jim Gibson. Very good plant health, coupled with vigorous growth and increase, and this is the most likely reason it was sent to me as a bonus plant many years ago (more plants than you know what to do with). Large blooms with subtle tones, decent stalks and bud count and comes with a stand out fragrance.The colour tones have always reminded me of some sort of Art Deco tableware. I must confess, for me it was originally not an Iris I would have selected if I had to pay good coin for it, but it has become an acquired taste over the years and a good mature clump of 'Smoke Rings' is very impressive, it's a 41 year old that can still strut its stuff and won't let you down.

Gibson's Iris Garden, 146 South Villa Street, Porterville, California. 1972 Tall Bearded Introductions.
SMOKE RINGS '72 M. 37"       $25.00
This vigorous growing, highly ruffled, smoky orchid plicata is a real attention-getter. The falls are smoky orchid rimmed on a cream ground. The standards are a blend of smoky orchid specks and veins with a cream flushed ground. The beard is a light orange. Petals are broad and serrated. Bloom size 5" X 6". An attention-getter. H.C. 1971. Seedling #23-7B

Browns Sunnyhill Gardens, Milton-Freewater,Oregon 1974 Iris Catalog
SMOKE RINGS
(Gibson '72) Standards cream flushed orchid with smoky orchid dotting and veining. Falls cream ground with smoky orchid rim ; light orange beards. Rounded ruffled and different. HM 1973 $15.00

Schreiners Iris Lovers Catalog 1981
SMOKE RINGS (Gibson 1972) M. 36"
Smoke rings is a delightful plicata of subtle tones which becomes more appreciated the longer one sees the plant. Smoky orchid standards with a deeper mauve border peppering on a rich cream ground characterise this beauty. Then too, the stronger growing habits of this Iris superbly show off the big opulently rounded and wide petalled flower. For so large a flower, though, it is refined in both colouration and carriage. H.M. 1973

IRISES A Garden Encyclopaedia, Claire Austin  
Iris 'Smoke Rings' (J Gibson 1971) This ruffled Cream-white plicata is stippled with pale plum and amber. The flower is very fragrant. Height 97 cm (37 inches). Bloom: mid-season.

AIS Checklist 1979
SMOKE RINGS J. Gibson, Reg. 1971 Sdlg. 23-7B. TB, 37" (94 cm), M, S. smoky orchid veining on cream and mauve; F. smoky orchid and mauve rim on creamy ground; yellow beard; ruffled. 30-5B: (35-1 PB1A: (23-4B x Rococo) x April Melody)) X 142-4A: (86-2PF x 2-2 PL). Gibson 1972. HM 1973.

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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter