Siberian Iris SNOW QUEEN

Not sure how the Siberian Iris Society came up with the 18 inches (46cm) height of Snow Queen as it grows 6-8 inches taller than their checklist height and small flowers are reported by HIP in their photo galleries, which most other catalogue listings would indicate small is not a great bloom size description. The 1939 Checklist show a listing for 'Snow Queen' as a Illustration in 'The Garden'  28th July, 1917, page 298, so I have taken this opportunity to show the image as referred, it accompanied an article written by Robert Wallace of Robert W. Wallace & Co. nurserymen, specialist in Irises for many years. I will see if I can dig out the Wallace catalogue of 1902 and look up the listing and see what it says, (I will post this at a latter date).
'Snow Queen' a natural hybrid of  I. sanguinea and is an exceptionally nice example of a historic Siberian Iris. Clumps up quickly, and becomes a welcome addition to any classic or modern garden.

Courtesy 'The Garden', 28th July, 1917.

 The Garden, 28th July, 1917.
June in a Devon Garden, A Garden of Little-Known Shrubs and Hardy Plants, Robert W. Wallace.
COVERING about an acre, the interesting garden of Mr. Eden Phillpotts, the famous Devon novelist, contains within its walls an unusually fine collection of little-known trees, flowering shrubs and plants........................................................
On a slightly lower level a new pond has been prepared, into which, with great care and interest has been placed the greatest of all Water Lilies — the glorious ruby 'Escarboucle' — and as a companion 'Mrs. Richmond', with its magnificent flowers of soft pink. I do not think there are any two finer Water Lilies than these. Again, beyond these in the surmounting beds are masses of Iris orientalis and Snow Queen in a happy contrast, while Primulas and a host of other moisture-loving subjects are planted in close proximity, including the new golden yellow Marsh Primrose.

Robert Wayman, Bayside, New York. Irises 1930-31.
SNOW QUEEN Collected By Peter Barr 1900) this is a very handsome snowy white flower, with rich yellow markings at the throat. It is large enough to be mistaken for a Japanese Iris and is very free flowering. The flower is of a firm waxy texture. It is the best white and should be in every collection.
50c each ; 3 for $1.25 ; 6 for $2.00 ; 100 for $25.00.

The Society for Siberian Irises.
Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises, 2006.
SNOW QUEEN Collected By Peter Barr Listed 1900 Collected in Japan SIB (dip.) (18" 46 cm) M & re White form of  I. sanguinea.   Peter Barr 1900 AM: RHS: 1902

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

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Siberian Iris "CAESAR'S BROTHER"

'CAESAR'S BROTHER' One of the most popular if not thee most popular landscape Siberian Iris variety . The flowers are medium blue with erect standards, very vigorous and easy to grow. I remember a conversation with a commercial grower of Siberians in New Zealand some years ago who stated "Customers visit the gardens and get to see the latest varieties I have imported from America, yet when they return to the shop nine times out of ten its 'Caesars Brother' which wins as the variety they want to take home to grow"
I grow it at home as a hedge of approximately 300 plants down the drive way, and must admit at peak bloom it looks good, bloom height is 36" which gives the garden visitors a greater appreciation of the flowers form. Bred by F. Cleveland Morgan, a pioneer Canadian breeder of Siberian irises. His best known irises are 'Caesar,' 'Caesar's Brother' and ‘Tropic Night', and all are still popular garden plants today. Photo taken in the morning light, and yes its Historic.

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises
CAESAR'S BROTHER Morgan, F. Cleveland Reg. 1931 SIB (dip.) (30" 76 cm) ML S. violet, narrow and upright; rich round violet F.; white signals and gold hafts (description from Adamgrove Catalog). Listed in 1939 CL as Caezar's Brother; spelling changed in 1949 CL. Kellogg 1932 HM 1936; MORGAN AWARD 1953

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

To find out more information on Siberian Irises go to The Society for Siberian Irises at http://www.socsib.org/.

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Siberian Iris 'GATINEAU'

GATINEAU by Miss Isabella Preston of the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada, was a significant advance Siberian Iris hybridising in the 192o's by Crossing Iris sibirica maxima with Snow Queen and is a good example of the Hybrid Vigour that can be achieved when crossing two inbred varieties. The more recent use of 'Snow Prince' is a similar example. Available in USA and Canada from Chuck Chapman Iris.



Excerpt From The Iris Society (BIS) Year Book 1935 page 31
A Few Notes on Breeding Iris Sibirica by Isabella Preston
The orientalis variety Snow Queen grows very well at the experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada and it seemed a pity that these beautiful flowers could not be grown on longer stems. So crosses were made between Iris sibirica maxima and I. orientalis var. Snow Queen. The cross was made both ways and a number of seedlings obtained. They were all blue but varied a great deal in the shade, markings and size of flower. Several of these were named after Canadian rivers. GATINEAU is one of the best of the pale blues. Others that have been named are Abitibi, Chaudière, Kootenay, Madawaska, Ottawa, and Rideau. Two of the seedlings were crossed with the pollen of Snow Queen and one of the seedlings was named Mattawin. It is a medium shade of blue. There were some white amongst the seedlings but none was considered an improvement on Snow Queen.

Snow Queen (Collected By Peter Barr Listed 1900 Collected in Japan SIB (dip.) (18" 46 cm) M & re White form of I.sanguinea. Peter Barr 1900 AM: RHS: 1902) and Iris sibirica maxima is listed in 1908 Bulletin 2nd Series 5 as growing at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada

I am speculating but feel seed from Isabella Preston was taken to England by Lady Byng of Vimy. ( Lord Byng was the Governor General of Canada 1921-1926) I know for certain that Lady Byng exhibited Canadian introductions 'Caesar' and 'Ottawa' , at the Iris Society Show, Vincent Square, June 8th 1928. Ottawa is illustrated in "Gardeners Chronicle" of June 16th 1928.

2006 Cumulative Checklist of Siberian Irises
GATINEAU Preston, Isabella Reg. 1930 SIB (dip.) (32" 81 cm) M Plants vigorous and erect, foliage 36" long. Flower stems 36-42" high. Flowers open, well proportioned, standards cupped, erect, 2.1 x .75", Gentian blue (HCC 42/2) veined Gentian blue (HCC 42/1). F. flaring, 2.75 x 1.5", Wisteria Blue (HCC 640) veined darker blue, haft creamy yellow with brown striations extending over upper half of petal. Style and crest pale blue. Description from Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vol. 78, Page 426 (1953). "Sibirica maxima" X Snow Queen. Kellogg 1932. AM 1933 AM (RHS) 1953

Big hat tip once again to The British Iris Society and their amazing Yearbooks for Photo and information

Top hat tip to Chuck Chapman for sharing another classy Historic Iris photo.

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Siberian Iris 'BUTTER AND SUGAR'

Considered to be the first 'Yellow' Siberian and possibly the most important colour break in Siberian Iris breeding at the time.
Hybridised by Currier McEwen the father of modern day Siberian Irises.
Falls of bright butter yellow between neat white standards. The large, shapely flowers are carried on 70cm stems, and in our garden 'Butter and Sugar' blends in well with other plants in the perennial border. Awarded the Morgan Award and the Morgan-Wood Medal. As a 33 year old it has become a relatively new Historic Iris.

Available World Wide and very reasonably priced. Check Siberian link list for a grower in your region.

2006 Cumulative Checklist of Siberian Irises
BUTTER AND SUGAR McEwen, Currier Reg. 1976 Sdlg 71/33(2) SIB (dip.) (27" 69 cm) M & re S. white with greenish yellow veins (RHS 154B); white styles with yellow midribs; F. yellow (5C), with greenish yellow veins. Floating Island X Dreaming Yellow. McEwen 1977 HM 1978; MORGAN AWARD 1981; MORGAN-WOOD MEDAL 1986

Extraordinary hat tip to Mike Unser for sharing the photo which is an outstanding display of this variety.
Photo copyright M Unser.

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Siberian Iris 'GRANDIS'

GRANDIS an Historic Siberian Iris that is just as elegant today, as the day it was introduced 97 years ago. A great example of classic form.It is appropriate to feature an heirloom Siberian iris introduced by Bertrand H. Farr . Considered to be the first person in the United States to take up seriously the breeding of Irises, his first introduction being in 1909.Indication of I. sibirica parentage are the bud pattern, height, and form.

 Beauty from Bulbs' Catalogue published by John Scheepers Inc, 522 Fifth Avenue, New York City, Administration Buildings and Display Gardens at Brookville, Long Island.1939
GRANDIS This variety has rich violet standards and styles with white falls beautifully veined rich violet and bronze veining at the throat. Very unusual on account of these markings on the falls which are prominent because they hang straight down Height 45 inches.

2006 Cumulative Checklist of Siberian Irises
GRANDIS Listed SIB (dip.) (36" 91 cm) E B3L. Blue-violet standards and style arms, white area on falls; F. reticulated with blue-violet lines that coalesce at the tips. Listed as superceded in 1939 CL. Synonyms: Sibirica Grandesse; sibirica grandis. Unknown parentage. Farr 1912.

Available in Canada from Chuck Chapman Iris who has a great selection of Siberian Irises both modern and Historic

Big hat tip to Chuck Chapman for sharing the photo which is pure class.
As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Photo copyright C. Chapman.

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Early Siberian Iris History

Siberian Iris have a limited early history in Hybridising. It maybe interesting to collectors of historic Irises that, only 157 Siberian Irises were recorded up to and including the year 1960 by the AIS checklists. Of these according to the AIS 1939 Checklist only 20 Siberian hybrids were in commerce or registered before 1920.(not including species) Some entries in the 1939 Checklist are not listed in the Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises Some Irises catalogued by commercial growers do not appear in either Checklist so the above figures can only be considered provisional but give a reasonable indication the limited size of early Siberian plant breeding history when compared to Tall Bearded Iris over the same era.
An Example of checklist problems includes the above Photo and the Show information below and is courtesy of the British Iris Society Year Book 1937.

Iris Society's Show 1937,List of Trophies and Medals Awarded other than for new Seedlings, Lady Byng of Vimy was awarded The Spender Challenge Trophy for Iris Sibirica Division V (class16) 6 varieties of Iris sibirica and/or Iris orientalis and their hybrids not more than 12 spikes each vase.
Varieties in the prize winning exhibit of Viscountess Byng are as follows, Thorpe Aquamarine, Thorpe Azure, Thorpe Glory, Thorpe Purple, Thorpe Sapphire, Thorpe Turquoise.

All of these varieties are listed in the 1939 AIS check list, but not listed in Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises, yet they are well documented.
Varieties prefix is in reference to Thorpe Hall, Thorpe-le-Soken, England. Described as a plant and shrub garden covering about 12 hectares, laid out between 1913 and 1945 with formal and informal features including lawns, pools and lakes, rock garden, rose garden and sunken garden developed by the owner, Lady Byng, from 1913 onwards. Garden still exists and should some enterprising Historic Iris enthusiast take the time could find the above varieties still growing in the grounds today. Happy Hunting

Iris plant History will always be a work in progress and will never be considered definitive.

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