RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year

Just how important is this.......... Well.... Very Important! The whole 'Iris World' benefits from this amazing publicity.
The RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2014 has been announced, second place went to Iris 'Domino Noir', bred by Richard Cayeux in his nursery in France. For 20 years Richard has been breeding towards a true black and white cultivar and after several generations of crosses has succeeded with I. 'Domino Noir'.  A rare jewel which offers a striking and clear contrast,with it's practically pure white standards with an almost imperceptible violet border and jet-black falls and has golden yellow beards. Cut stems can be seen on the Silver-gilt Award winning Cayeux stand in the Great Pavilion.
Six days displaying Irises at Chelsea, one of the greatest Garden Shows on Earth that caters to the 'gardening public' (you know those really important people I keep banging on about) is a truly amazing achievement. To be runner-up for the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2014 and receiving a Silver-gilt award for the Iris display at the Great Pavillion, must be the icing on the cake for Richard, and I send my warmest congratulations to him.

AIS Checklist 2012
DOMINO NOIR (Cayeux, R. 2012) Sdlg. 06 23 A. TB, 33 (84 cm), M S. white; style arms white, amber-yellow crest; F. pure black; beards gold. Magnetisme X 03 79 A: (01 17 A: (Lightshine x 98 169 A) x 01 50 B: (Sixtine C. x Futuriste)).

A hydrangea making its world debut at Chelsea took the top spot and became 2014 RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year. Hydrangea macrophylla Miss Saori (‘H20-2’) has been bred in Kyoto by young plantsman Ryoji Irie and named for his fiancé who has since become his wife. It’s a striking double-flowered, mophead cultivar with each floret having deep rose margins softening to white centres, perhaps it could be called a plicata hydrangea. The blooms are long-lasting, produced in June and on first year wood. The appeal is further heightened by dark foliage. Thrives in full sun or semi-shade, suit border or container growing and can also be used as a cut flower.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Major Hat Tips and "Merci beaucoup" to Richard Cayeux for his photos, his daughter Hortense for collating and formatting the high resolution photos, and to Catherine Adam for her direction and help with the French Language, and catalogue listings.

Reproduction in whole or in part of this photo without the expressed written permission of Richard Cayeux is strictly prohibited.
Photo credit and copyright Richard Cayeux © .

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Tall Bearded Iris CATHÉDRALE DE CHICHESTER and The Chichester Cathedral Flower Festival 2014.

Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014.
New 2014 varieties created by Cayeux.
CATHÉDRALE DE CHICHESTER
Tall bearded -Mid-season to late  - Height :85cm- colour: Amoena
A very French iris named after the remarkable British Cathedral where it will be launched! Creamy white standards with finely serrated butter yellow edges. Deep golden yellow falls and orange beards. A very rich tone, sound branching, good substance and averaging 8 buds per stem.


The Chichester Cathedral Flower Festival 2014.
The Chichester Festival of Flowers is a Biennial event which this year will mark the 10th Anniversary. It will be a stunning display of creative, imaginative and beautiful flower designs. and the theme for the 2014 event will be 'The Music Makers', interpreting twelve centuries of music from pop to plainsong, classic to jazz, and sacred to secular. The Festival will have the IRIS for 'plant of the year', and Richard Cayeux is dedicating his new variety 'Cathédrale de Chichester' in contribution to the considerable preservation and development efforts underway at this historic site. Cayeux also plan to bring 14 of their new 2014 intros and to exhibit 6 different colour areas with many Cayeux varieties, and will also include excellent international bred irises.
Held in the gardens of the Royal Chantry in the Cathedral Cloisters, and this year’s festival runs on May 29, 30 and 31, (10am-7pm, Thursday and Friday; 10am-6pm, Saturday).

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Major Hat Tips and "Merci beaucoup" to Richard Cayeux for his photo, his daughter Hortense for collating and formatting the high resolution photo, and to Catherine Adams for her direction and help with the French Language.

Reproduction in whole or in part of this photo without the expressed written permission of Richard Cayeux is strictly prohibited.
Photo credit and copyright Richard Cayeux.  

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Historic Tall bearded Iris SHAH JEHAN

An exotic looking iris bred in Canada of all places, who would of thought? If ever there was an iris that reinforces the fact that historic irises have a natural yet bold elegance then this iris is it. Makes one think of Persian rugs, Oriental tapestry and palaces, this is an iris that begs the company of other white flowers, to set off it's rich tapestry of colours . Named after that lavish Mughal emperor 'Shah Jahan' famous for building the Taj Mahal, he was also believed to have had a very refined taste in the arts and is credited with having commissioned over 900 gardens in Kashmir. An iris that one could maybe expect to see at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, or perhaps 'The Manor' at Hemingford Grey.
These irises are once again becoming available for purchase from commercial growers, and I'm sure they will create a renewed interest in classic irises and be wildly popular with gardeners who appreciate real class. 

A H. Burgess and Son, Iris Specialists, Waikanae, Wellington. 1936 Irises.
SHAH JEHAN- This glorious novelty of rich Oriental colouring was raised in British Columbia, and shown in England last year when it received the Bronze Medal of the Iris Society. The standards are very erect and pointed, and are buff, suffused smoke grey, fading to yellow as the flower ages. The fall are plum red, with an intense reddish-brown flush at the haft; margined lavender-buff. 4ft.; Late.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1936, Number 63.
Iris Notes of 1936, J. Marion Shull.
A couple varieties that stood pretty much alone Over-the-Garden-Wall were Shah Jehan and Williamson's Amigo. The latter is of B. Y. Morrison type but much more intense in color and a better formed flower. It is seen to greatest advantage in shade. Shah Jehan is a very striking thing of the same variegata-derived color group, except that in Amigo all yellow has been left out whereas in Shah Jehan there is enough yellow above to present the strange anomaly of warm-toned standards with falls definitely cool in tone, such as would result from converting a yellow-white bicolor into a typical variegata blend of the falls type of Lodestar or Maori Princess. Beautiful form and exceptionally fine placement accompany the very unusual color scheme. I like it very much in a single stem. How it will wear when grown in mass and seen more frequently can only be left for later judgment.

The Longfield Iris Farm, Bluffton, Indiana. 1936 Catalog.
Shah Jenah (Neel, 1932.) English Bronze Medal (1933). A glorious Iris of rich Oriental coloring. S. buff suffused grey fading to yellow as the flower ages. F. rich plum red with intense reddish brown flush at haft. Margined lavender buff. Very late.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, September 1937, Number 66.
Along the Iris Coast, Julius Dornblut, Jr.
In my own garden Shah Jehan was eagerly awaited as I had read the glowing reports of it in the BULLETINS. It is royally splendid, looks ,veIl even in the rain, but somehow I was disappointed. Perhaps it was too well advertised. Its pinched falls will surely be criticised.

Stevens Bros. Bulls. Catalogue of Irises 1937-1938.
SHAH JEHAN
This glorious variety is truly Oriental in its blending of rich colours. It is too decided in its colour effect to be classed as a "blend," though many colours go to its make-up. It has been called a variegata, but it is so entirely different from all other variegatas, or indeed from all other irises, that it has been well termed sensational. The whole flower is an extravaganza of colour difficult to describe or visualise. The standards are buff, suffused with smoke grey, changing as the flower ages to yellow. The falls are a rich and lustrous velvety purple, with an intense reddish-brown flush at the haft, very distinctly margined lavender-buff. A rich orange beard completes this glorious ensemble. 4ft.....................................................12/6

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 1937.
SHAH JEHAN Each $2.00
Said to contain more colors than any other iris in commerce, this serenely beautiful flower in oriental smoky shades almost eludes any attempt to describe it accurately. Standards are creamy buff faintly edged lavender, the falls very rich velvety chestnut merging into purple, thence gradually fading out to a margin that repeats the color in the standards. Beard is very rich orange. A very late variety, tall,of large size.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, September 1937, Number 66.
Impressions of a California Iris Season, Harold I Johnson.
Shah Jehan is a most vivid flower. There is the faintest element of the absurd about it, and I find its colors rather reminding me of Santa Claus and Christmas chimneys. Something so unusual should, however, be treasured. It is a true amoena, as will be markedly shown by comparing it with Mildred Presby.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1938.Visit to Wisley. 10th June, 1938, G. L Pilkington.
SHAH JEHAN (Neel) was hardly out- it is a late flowerer- but was thick with flower spikes and doing well. This is another iris for richness of colour.

Schreiner's Iris Garden, Riverview Station, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1940 Catalog.
SHAH JEHAN (Neel 1932) L. 38"
This unique new Iris which Schreiner's Iris Gardens have popularized in America has now become one of the dozen of so irises by whose presence the up-to-dateness of an iris collection is judged. In color it is certainly the most sensational of all novelties. Named for that lavish emperor of India who ruled three centuries ago from the famous Peacock Throne, Shah Jehan is itself an extravaganza of color containing no less than seven distinctly different hues. The standards are a delicate creamy-buff faintly edged lavender; the falls are rich and magnificent, quickly blending from a light fawn at the haft to a glowing copper, then to a rich deep chestnut. This in turn changes to a gorgeous tone of lustrous velvety purple- the dominant color of the falls. Imperceptibly this rich purple changes to a softer plum or magenta and this finally to a lavender edge which repeats the margining of the standards. The beard is of the richest orange. The entire effect, for all the extraordinary range of color is subtly harmonious and inveigling. If you have not yet added this outstanding iris to your collection, do not fail to include it this season. 

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1942, Bearded Flag Irises-An Initial Thirty, F.Wynn Hellings.
7. SHAH JEHAN. A glorious Iris. It is not easy to describe the colour scheme, but it may be said that the standards are a smoky-buff which becomes more yellow as the flower ages, while the richly coloured falls are a shade of dark, reddish plum-purple, edged lavender. It has become one of my favourites after a season of doubt while it was establishing itself. Not the least of its attractions is that it comes in late mid-season (third and fourth week of June), and is in fact usually tile last to flower of my 350 varieties (reduced from 500 to make room for vegetables). Extremely rapid increase. Form and proportion excellent. Good stem. Height 3 ft. 9 in.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1947, Irises for the Beginner, N. Leslie Cave.
SHAH JEHAN (2 Votes) (Neel 1932) Buff standards, red purple falls shaded with a rich brown. Rather late flowering. A satisfactory grower and very distinct. Tall.
Cayeux, La Carcaudière - Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lovers Catalogue, 2014.
SHAH JEHAN (Neel 1932) Tall bearded - Mid-season to late - size:85cm - colour: Amoena
Standards are milky white, whilst light lemon coloured at the base. Falls are crimson red with a fine 2mm wide white border. Bright yellow beards. A graceful amoena with a good finish for the time period.

AIS Checklist 1939
SHAH JEHAN TB-MVLa-S9D (Neel 1932)
(Ambassadeur X  . . . ), HC RHS 1934, AM AIS 1937.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Major Hat Tips and "Merci beaucoup" to Richard Cayeux for his photos, his daughter Hortense for collating and formatting the high resolution photos, and to Catherine Adam for her direction and help with the French Language, and catalogue listings.

Reproduction in whole or in part of this photo without the expressed written permission of Richard Cayeux is strictly prohibited.
Photo credit and copyright Richard Cayeux © .

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Tall Bearded Space Age Iris CONJURATION

Flowers are small for the height of the stalks. It's a more subtle Space Age form and some people take a lot of convincing that it is a Space Age Iris at all. Covers itself in blooms with a great backup of buds. I've always been impressed with this Iris growing in other gardens but only just purchased this Iris last season, so for me to write that I'm looking forward to this multi-award winning iris blooming at home would have to be the understatement of 2013 .

Moonshine Gardens, Potter Valley California.
Introductions 1989
CONJURATION *TB*(Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle.White with suffused violet edges, much deeper on the falls; white beard tipped tangerine and fuzzy white horns. A more modern, more ruffled Alpine Castle with horns...................................................................$35.00.

IRISES A Gardener's Encyclopedia, Claire Austin
Iris 'Conjuration' (Byers 1988) this variety produces small, scented flowers balanced on slender, well branched stems. The blooms are mainly white, but the falls are broadly edged with rose violet, while standards are tinged with a paler violet. The white beards are long, horned, and tipped with tangerine toward the back. Height 91 cm (36½"). Bloom : mid to late season. Parentage (Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle. Dykes Medal Winner USA 1998.

IRIS Flowers of the Rainbow, Graeme Grosvenor. Amoena.
'Conjuration' (Byers 1988) it is not an amoena in the true sense as the white standards have a pale blue-violet edge while the falls are deep amethyst violet with a white central area surrounding white beards tipped tangerine with fuzzy white horns. This "Space-Age" Iris is ruffled, has good form and gives a blue-violet amoena effect in the garden. Spikes reach 90 cm in mid to late season, are strong, well held and support the eight or more buds. Growth, health, vigour and increase are all good, as is the general garden effect of this beauty. Breeding is (Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle.

Contemporary Views, 1989, Perry Dyer– Award Winners
The 9-1-1 AWARD is given to the New Iris that is the most significant hybridizing achievement or color break. This year’s winner is the new Space Age iris, CONJURATION (Byers 1989). As viewed in Memphis at the master planting at Ketchum, it was a tall, commanding “amoena” in the tradition of its parent, ‘Alpine Castle’ (Blyth), but with drastically improved form. The stalks were somewhat thin, but tall and stately, and holding up average sized flowers with no problem in light rain and wind. Exceptionally vigorous and floriferous, it makes a smashing clump, but I feel it will also consistently produce show stalks. The color scheme is basically a white infused lilac-lavender, with the falls heavily washed on the edges in amethyst in the style of ‘Planned Treasure’ (Burger) or ‘Fuji’s Mantle’ (Schreiner). All of this is capped with consistent, bright tangerine beards and horns! A great breakthrough.

Contemporary Views, 1993, Perry Dyer- Space Age.
The presence of the late Monty Byers was felt all the way to Italy, and he took the competition by storm, placing five in the Top 20 finalists, and two in the Top 10! For the first time in the entire history of the competition, a Space Age iris won the top prize: CONJURATION (Byers 1989). The local Italian ladies would walk by the spectacular clump and proclaim, “bella, bella”!
 
Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 2002.
Space Age Iris
CONJURATION (Byers 1989) ML. 40" Bright white standards are lightly infused pale violet blue. Smooth, wide blue-violet edging on white falls. Tangerine tipped white beards. Frilly white horns.HM '91, AM '94,  Wister Medal '98, Dykes Medal '98

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, 2013 Collectors Edition, Iris Lovers Catalog.
CONJURATION (Byers 1989) ML. 40"
A fantastic spellbinder! Conjuration's clean white standards are delicately tinted with pale blue-violet. Deeper 3/4 inch bands of amethyst-violet dramatically edge its snow-white falls. Look closely to see fuzzy white horns extending from the tangerine beards. Double-and triple-socketed buds yield 8-12 flowers per stalk. HM '91, AM '94,  Wister Medal '98, Dykes Medal '98

AIS Checklist 1989
CONJURATION (Monty Byers, registered 1988). Seedling D1-1. TB, height 36" (91 cm), mid to late bloom season. Standards white, edge lightly infused pale violet blue; falls white, suffusing to deep bright amethyst violet edge; white beard tipped tangerine; fuzzy white horns; ruffled. B-37-10: (Sky Hooks x Condottiere) X Alpine Castle. Moonshine Gardens 1989. Honorable Mention 1991; Award of Merit 1994; Wister Medal 1998; American Dykes Medal 1998.

This photo and others recently displayed on this blog and credited to Julie May were taken in 2003 on a Canon PowerShot S45 a 4.1 Megapixel compact point-and-shoot camera, now ain't that something.
As usual, clicking the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Julie May.

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Tall Bearded Iris 'BAL MASQUÉ'

Just how has this exquisite French bred Amoena been overlooked for High Awards or any deserved official recognition for all these years???
It's one of my special 'Look forward to blooms' and comes with outstanding form coupled with great growing habits and qualities, and my opinion of it expands each bloom season.  Outstanding show stalks with multiple branching and healthy blue-green foliage. It is a very dramatic color combination.
Seems to be a bit of a Darkhorse Iris in New Zealand as well, and my big hat tip goes to Julie May the owner of the legendary 'The Iris Garden' who originally imported the iris. 

Iris, les meilleures espèces et variétés pour le jardin, Susanne Weber.
Les variétés de l'avenir, Variétés bicolores
'Bal Masqué' pétales blancs, sépales violet foncé, coeur blanc très veiné, barb rouge orange. F. Cayeux 1991.

Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2012.
BAL MASQUÉ
Bright clean white standards and wide pansy violet falls. White heart streaked violet and lit up with a luminous orange-red beard. Excellent stems. Sixth prize at the American Convention in 1998. One of our best creations.
Tall bearded - Mid-season to late - size:85cm - colour: Amoena - perfume:sweet floral   Cayeux (1991)

AIS Checklist 1999
BAL MASQUÉ (Jean Cayeux, R. 1993) Sdlg. 84109 L. TB, 34" (86 cm), ML; S. pure white; F. bright pansy violet, small white flash below tangerine red beard. (Condottiere x Delphi) X (Alizes x (Condottiere x Lunar Rainbow)). Cayeux 1991.

Still sold by 'The Iris Garden' if you pay them a visit and now also sold by mailorder in New Zealand by Coleen Peri at 'The Iris Boutique' see link above 'New Zealand Iris Growers.

Clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter.

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Tall Bearded Iris JAZZED UP

This rose pink amoena grows very tall. Growing at home the white standards are not immaculate as Schreiners catalogue description states and generally are always flushed a pleasant light orchid tone. The brown toned veins on the fall halfs detract the eye from the overall colour balance. This iris has undoubted carrying power in the garden but is best viewed at a distance, so I found it a home at the back of the border. Good plant health and strong stems that grip the very large slightly ruffled blooms. For those interested in breeding it's fertile both ways.

Schreiners Iris Lovers Catalog, 75th Diamond Anniversary,Collectors Edition 2000
JAZZED UP (Schreiners 1994) ML. 42"
Jazzed Up's exceptionally tall stems have two strong branches with 8-9 buds. The large 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" flowers have both heavy substance and superb gently ruffled form. This rose amoena's immaculate white standards are gracefully arched and pleasantly complement the wide rosy lavender falls.

AIS Checklist 1999
JAZZED UP Schreiner, Reg. 1994 Sdlg. AA 1462-1. TB, 42" (107 cm), ML. S. white (RHS 155D); F. rosy lavender (80C); beards white; lightly ruffled. S 269-O: ('Mill Valley' x I 686-1: (E 242-A: ('Lilac Champagne' sdlg. x (('Alpenrose' x 'Whole Cloth') x 'Cashmere')) x 'Breaking Dawn')) X 'Lullaby Of Spring'. Schreiner 1994. Honorable Mention 1996.

Still commercially grown in New Zealand.
As usual, clicking the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris "BEACH GIRL"

Another of Barry Blyth's long blooming Apricot Tan Amoena line with typical classy form. Creamy white standards are gracefully edged gold and have just a blush of pink in the midribs. Falls are a solid Apricot Tan which are illuminated with a piping hot tangerine reddish beard. Medium size blooms with eight to ten buds on each good strong stalks. Great health with average increase and most importantly fertile both ways. A slight sweet fragrance enhances the appeal. Once you have a mature clump established 'Beach Girl' will bloom its socks of for you for the full length of the Tall Bearded bloom season. Quick to attract attention, it is a seriously good garden variety!!
'Beach Girl' has a longer blooming season than the 1986 Barry Blyth introduction of a similar class 'Oriental Alabaster'

 AIS Checklist 1989
BEACH GIRL (B. Blyth, R. 1983). Sdlg. P49-3. TB 39" (99 cm) E-L. Standards white, hint of pastel pink at midrib; Falls orange apricot; tangerine red beard. Champagne Snow X (Love Chant x Festive Skirt)., Tempo Two 1983/84.

Selling this year in New Zealand at 'Amazing Iris Garden', or 'Richmond Irises'.

Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Historic Iris "WABASH "

Fragrant, Classic and Tailored elegance are the attributes that 'Wabash' a very popular Iris in the 1940's adds to any Garden it is growing in. High plant health, good increase, and copious bloom right from year one makes this iris the winner of the Dykes Medal in 1940 a must have. This iris display's the purple bottom foliage that is essential for the correct ID of this variety but this aspect would not be a clincher as I have always firmly believed that the elusive and mysterious Mt. McKINLEY, a 1947 Schreiner's introduction has the same PBF, with slightly larger flowers, it bloom's only marginally earlier and is a dead ringer of Wabash.
Above photo taken over at the Woolshed garden and shows background plantings of 'Iceberg' Climbing Rose and Penstemon 'Purple Passion'.
I grow just a few of the Williamson stable of Irises which are noted for their good growing abilities and my list of E. B. Williamson registrations includes some of the first Table Irises (MTB) registered, Kinglet (1934) with its lemon standards and lemon flushed brown falls and the pale blue cultivar Chewink (1937) both are the very rare and no longer sold in commerce in their country of origin. (USA)

Carl Salbach Berkeley, California, Iris and Selected Seed Specialists, 1941.
WABASH (Williamson 1936) For a long time we have been looking for a good big iris with white standards and deep blue falls. Wabash fills the bill in every particular.It is described by the introducer as "A sensation in Iris of this type. You can see it a city block," and comments by A.I.S. judges include: "One of the most beautiful irises ever introduced," and "Far ahead of others in the amoena class."
Technically described as standards white, falls hyacinth violet, edged white. H.M.A.I.S., 1937. 40" 

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, Iris Lovers Catalog 1948
WABASH (Williamson 1936) M 36"
'Fresh toned as any orchid this Amoena with snowy white standards and ultramarine-blue falls with brighter margining. The best and one of the very true amoenas, it is a standout. For illustration of this clear contrasted flower see page 23

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, Iris Lovers Catalog 2009.
Wabash, E.B. Williamson, 1936, 35" Mid Season,Fragrant, Dykes Medal '40
We are proud to offer Wabash, a truly historic Iris. Its simple tailored form speaks with a quiet elegance. The clean white standards offer good contrast to the deep plush reddish purple of its falls. Note also the delicate white wire rim on the edges of the falls.

Stevens Bros. Bulls, New Zealand, Irises 1940-41
WABASH (Williamson)
Fresh toned as any orchid is this lovely novelty with snowy white standards and ultramarine falls with brighter margining. Destined for a great future. 3ft. 25/-

Illustration courtesy Schreiners Iris Lovers Catalog, page 23, 1948

Interesting information gleaned from the 1939 Checklist about the Hybridiser's father Edward Bruce Williamson 1877- 1933, Banker, Naturalist, Authority on Dargonflies. Fellow of Vanderbilt University 1900-1901, Assistant Curator, Carnegie Museum 1898-1899, Honorable Curator odonata, University of Michigan 1916-1928 and from 1928-1933, Research associate, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
Began to raise Irises about 1906, interested in making crosses between species and later worked with Bearded mostly, producing many splendid varieties especially noted for their good growing qualities.
Longfield Iris Farm Bluffton Indiana was founded by E B Williamson . Paul Cook became a partner in 1920 but retired in 1928 to devote his time to breeding.Mr Williamson can be considered as the second really great Iris breeder in the United States, Mr Farr having been first. After Mr Williamson's death in 1933 the nursery has been carried on by his daughters and is now being run by Mary Williamson. The Williamson Irises have been noted, LENT A WILLIAMSON being the landmark in Iris breeding equal perhaps to DOMINION in this respect. 'Wabash' is the name of Indiana's most famous river.
Recently many fine new varieties have gone forth including the Rome Gold Medal winner, E.B. WILLIAMSON (P.Cook), SABLE (P.Cook), AMIGO , WABASH , MOONGLO , DOLLY MADISON, ETHEL PECKHAM.

From the 1936 Longfield Iris Farm Catalog
Meanings of Iris Names
Wabash- The name according to J.P. Dunn is an abbreviation of the Miami name for stream- Wa-ba-shi-ki or Wa-pa-shi-ki meaning bright white and referring to the limestone bed of the stream in its upper course.

AIS Checklist 1939
WABASH
M. Williamson, 1936 TB M W3D, (Dorothy Dietz X Cantabile), HM 1937, AM 1938, Dykes Medal 1940.



AIS 1939 Checklist page 47, Longfield Iris Farm, infers Mary Williams as the Originator, but the Iris Society, (BIS), Year Book 1941, p21, notes the following.
The Dykes Medal was awarded to the American Iris Society to:-
WABASH-Raised by Miss Mary Williamson, Longfeild Iris Farm, Bluffton, Indiana (which pretty much removes all doubt.) I have taken the liberty and have come to the conclusion that Mary Williamson is the undisputed originator of 'Wabash'
I have recently received information from Mr Jerry Oswalt of Bluffton Indiana which reinforces this view point


Cataloged by Schreiners in the 1940's and still available from Schreiners today which is an incredible 70 years of being sold in the iris market. Well grown for sale in New Zealand by Julie May at 'The Iris Garden'  

Big hat tip to Jerry Oswalt for sharing the additional information
Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

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