Tall Bearded Iris BURNT TOFFEE

The unusual is to breeders and some select growers a delight, toss in a unknown parentage or two and the intrigue goes to overdrive!! 'Burnt Toffee' is another of what I like to call my "Colour Chaos Irises" with it's original mysterious colour concoction. Smoky copper red-violet standards, brick red edged hafts with a airbrushed violet blue centre that expands down the falls and a decided margining of gold bronze, a blue beard tipped with bright old gold. Orange blossom fragrance. Impressive branching (3 plus spur). 'Burnt Toffee' disease-resistant foliage is a deep blue green, but plant has only average growth, eventually producing a stunning clump in the garden. For some though an acquired taste.

Schreiner’s Iris Lovers Catalog 1977
BURNT TOFFEE, (Schreiner 1977) ML. 37"
No one color completely characterizes this Iris for it subtly blends a gradation of several colors. Its standards are medium red-violet suffused with golden bronze. The falls present a change of pace. Their center is a pronounced blue-violet wash that diminishes to the precise border edging of gold-bronze. The beard starts as blue tipped but gives way to old gold deep down in the throat. Hafts are a metallic olive-gold-bronze. This smoky colored Iris is indeed unique! Three branches, 7 to 9 buds.

Eden Road Iris Garden, Wenatchee, Washington. 1979 Catalog.
BURNT TOFFEE, (Schreiner 1977) ML. 37" (Unknown)
Very effective blending of dark chocolate and blue-lavender. Beard is dull gold to blue. This one will make you stop and enjoy its rich coloring.

Tempo Two, Barry and Lesley Blyth, East Road, Pearcedale, Victoria, Australia, Season 1983-84
BURNT TOFFEE (Schreiner '77 USA) ML 37". A unique smoky Iris that subtly blends a graduation of several colours. Standards red violet suffused golden bronze. Falls gold bronze with blue flush through centre around blue beards. Good branching. (Parentage unknown) HM '79

AIS Checklist 1979
BURNT TOFFEE Schreiner's, Reg. 1977. Sdlg. G 1519-3. TB 37" (94 cm) ML.  Standards  light chocolate, flushed blue-lavender to center along midrib; Falls richer chocolate with darker chocolate hafts, blue blaze in center; dull gold to blue beard. Unknown parentage., Schreiner's 1977. 

Big hat tip to Calos Ayento of Brighton Park Iris fame for the 1977 Schreiner's description its much appreciated.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version. Reproduction in whole or in part of this post, its opinions or its images without the expressed written permission of Terry Johnson is strictly prohibited. Photo credit and copyright Terry Johnson and Heritage Irises ©.

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Classic Tall Bearded Iris SUN MIRACLE

Considered by Carlos Ayento, of Brighton Park Iris to be rare variety in its American homeland. 'Sun Miracle' is a forty six year old classic and is still growning and seen alot in gardens here in New Zealand.
Amazingly bright, its an Iris with great carrying power, grows extraordinarily well. It's such a clean yellow self.  

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, Iris Lovers Catalog, 1967.
SUN MIRACLE ( Schreiner 1967) M. 36"
Sun Miracle is not a golden yellow but in the  scale a true canary yellow. In the garden picture we never get enough of these. Their effect is like magic in brightening up the entire iris colorama. Yellow is indeed the most vivid color: witness the popularity of marigolds. Don't pass up this potent color. It will do things for you!

Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, Iris Lovers Catalog, 1982.
SUN MIRACLE ( Schreiner 1967) M. 36"
A true canary yellow of perfect form. In the garden we never get enough of these. Their effect is like magic in brightening up the entire colorama. Yellow is indeed the most vivid color; witness the popularity or marigolds. This new yellow is a glorious, sunshiny color. Big blooms and extra fine branching.

Richmond Iris Garden, 376 Hill Street, Nelson. 1971-1972 Catalogue.
SUN MIRACLE  M. 36". A true canary yellow of perfect form, yellow acts like magic in brighten up the entire garden.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1976,Varietal Comment- Tall Bearded, Bryan Dodsworth.
SUN MIRACLE ( Schreiner 1967). Canary yellow self. Unsurpassed in its colour group. Every stem is of show quality, the flowers are of ideal form and rugged substance.Disease is unknown to it and it increases freely. As the advertisers say, no garden can be considered complete without it.

AIS Checklist 1969
 SUN MIRACLE    (Schreiners, R. 1967). Sdlg. W 474-AA. TB 36" M. Y1F.    Absolute self of even color pure gold, canary yellow (RHS canary yellow), very smooth; even yellow beard. Olympic Torch X R 272-2 ((Golden Blaze x M1158-A (Country Butter x Golden Sunshine))., Schreiners 1967.

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Reproduction in whole or in part of this photo without the expressed written permission of Terry Johnson is strictly prohibited.
Photo credit and copyright Terry Johnson and Heritage Irises © .

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