French Historic Tall Bearded Iris MARQUITA

One of the all time greats of French Tall Bearded Iris breeding. Carl Salbach summed it up when in his 1949 Catalog (some 18 years after it's introduction) he wrote the following regarding 'Marquita', "Described by one of the A.I.S. judges as 'One of the most unique of all… American should give it its highest award". Overlooked in the awarding of the French Dykes Medal because it was so late of bloom that most of the judges missed it."
Now that's impressive!!

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1930,
"New Irises in France, Irises seen at the Nurseries of Messrs. Cayeux et Le Clerc ", page 89, Olive Murrell and Percy Murrell.
4383 (Marquita) This is an enormous Iris similar in colour tones to Minnehaha. The standards are apricot-yellow and the falls are streaked with red.

Cayeux & Le Clerc, Quai de la Mègisserie, 8, Paris. Catalog 1931.
Marquita (Cayeux 1931) A strong plant, robust well branched  3 feet stems. S. very large, ivory deepening light yellow at the margins, large sulphur yellow styles, droping falls of same colour adorned with distinct ochraceous maroon lines running almost evenly from base to apex giving a striking novel appearance, this more pronounced on the first day, as the flower shade, it turn to a darker redder suffusion leaving an ivory white margin. A very attractive flower for its large challis-like standards and for the quaint drooping of the falls. Could be most valuable for breeding purposes as for landscape effect. Height 3 feet.

The Iris Yearbook (BIS), 1931,"Irises in France", page 42, G. L. Pilkington.
*** Marquita (4383) This is a most attractive variety, and seen flowering in mass was most telling. The flowers are of great size, and borne on 3 ft. stems with fair branching habits. The standards are of clearest ivory yellow, of the size "Helios" and the falls, which are hanging, are of a pale raspberry red with darker streakings. Whilst the flowers is in bud and early stages the standards have a pin line fringe of red around the edges. A "Helios" seedling. (To be sent out this year)

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October, 1933. Number 49.
Comments on 1933 Ratings, Sherman R. Duffy.
Marquita (Cay.) (87). Much more striking in a group than as a single stalk. The huge creamy standards set off by the red-veined falls can be seen across the garden. The judges applied their discounts chiefly to form and stalk.

Quality Gardens, Iris, Freeport, Illinois. Iris 1933.
MARQUITA  (Mar-kee-ta) (Cayeux 1931)
A very attractive new variety. A Helios seeding, it resembles the parent plant in its huge size and fine form. Standards clearest ivory yellow, falls almost the same shade with ruby lines running almost evenly from base to apex, as the flower ages the center of the falls turns red, leaving  a creamy rim edging the flower. A new thrill every day it blooms.
Certificate of Merit, S.N.H.F...................................................$30.00 

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 1933.
NEW IRISES from FRANCE
TWO years ago American iris enthusiasts visiting in France brought home glowing accounts of three new seedlings produced by that master hybridist, M. Cayeux, of Paris. Of course he exhibited thousands of seedlings in his gardens, but three of them were especially fine and excited comment from every English and American visitor. As soon as we heard about them we promptly ordered a few rhizomes of each, and despite their long journey over the Atlantic and thence across the United States, they reached us in splendid condition and flowered beautifully the following May. These new irises, which will be released from Federal Quarantine about July 1st, are herewith offered for the first time in America.......
MARQUITA. A well named iris in brilliant luminous ivory yellow and ochraceous maroon. The standards are ivory deepening to sulphur at the base ; the falls are of the same color but are heavily and entirely lined with dark but brilliant maroon, giving to the flower a most striking and novel appearance. Limited stock. Each $12.00

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, April, 1934. Number 51.
Iris Memories, Edward Salbach.
Never have I found a surer way of judging the merit of a new iris than by waiting till long after the blooming season and then looking backwards to see which have remained in In my memory. Those that "stick," I can unquestionably consider as outstanding.The iris that I cannot definitely place or which seem only vaguely familiar are not generally deserving among the very best. In memory now, in the midst of winter, I can recall fifteen new iris that etched a place for themselves in my memory. These fine iris I place in my own personal honor roll of newest iris........................
MARQUITA - A huge variegata from France, with cream standards and falls lined light red, evidently derived from Helios parentage.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, April, 1935. Number 57.
Varietal Notes, 1934. M. E. Douglas, New Jersey
Marquita, I have seen in one garden each year for three successive years, that is, three different and widely separated gardens, and each time on a one year plant. I consider its color most distinctive and remember-able.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, July, 1935. Number 58.
Iris Notes of 1935, Mrs Thomas Nesmith.
Marquita is a delicately beautiful iris and most unusual in color with its creamy standards and rose pink falls, the heavy venation seems to add rather than detract from the flower. It was a first year plant and the falls had a tendency to tuck under, but I have been told that when well established it does not have this fault.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October, 1936. Number 63.
The Annual Meeting, Eleanor P. Jones.
Mr. McKee's in Worcester was our first stop. In his garden of comparatively small extent we saw iris superbly grown and in splendid condition. Marquita, an introduction of Cayeux, seemed to draw everyone to it at once, very tall and of fine form with creamy yellow standard and falls of the same but striped with rosy~pink.

Stevens Bros. Nurserymen, Bulls, New Zealand, Catalogue of Irises 1937-38.
Novelties and Recent Introductions
MARQUITA (Cayeux)
One of the finest of the new French Introductions. Exceptionally large flowers of most unusual colouring. The standards are clear creamy yellow, frostily lustrous. The falls are cream, heavily lined rose pink that it seems more like a suffusion than a lining at the end of the petals. 3½ ft. 30/-

Williamson, Iris 1936, The Longfield Iris Farm.
Marquita (Cay 1930) C.M., SNHF 1932. Very large well rounded flowers of creamy yellow, the F pencilled or lined ruby from base to apex. Tall and quite distinct. 42inches.

National Iris Gardens, Beaverton, Oregon, 21st Catalog, 1937
MARQUITA  (Cayeux) 40". An enormous and stunning flower of deep rich ivory with F. so heavily striped bright maroon that they appear to be solidly colored to the ivory margin. It attracts attention because of the gigantic unlined standards which are much larger than the falls. A.M. 1936

Schreiners Iris Garden, Riverview Station, St Paul, 7, Minnesota. An Iris Lovers Catalog, 1937.
Marquita (Cayeux 1931) L.34". An amoena type in cream and watermelon rose.It is luminous cream standards. "silken,hushed, and chaste" are the last word in serene but warm exquisiteness. The watermelon-rose falls are veined rather than solidly colored. A very lovely iris.

Carl Salbach Berkeley, California, German or Bearded Iris Catalog, 1937.
Marquita. (Cayeux). One of he finest French Iris ever produced. A remarkable variety which should eventually find its way into the gardens of all iris lovers. Described by one of the A.I.S. judges as 'One of the most unique of all… American should give it its highest award". Overlooked in the awarding of the French Dykes Medal because it was so late of bloom that most of the judges missed it. Perhaps the largest of all variegatas, but so distinctly different in coloring from the average variegata that it hardly seems to belong under the same classification. Simply huge blooms, standards of clear creamy yellow, frostily lustrous and with falls of cream, but so heavily lined rose pink that it seems more like a suffusion than a lining at the end of the petals. Late. 42 inch. A.M. A.I.S 1936

Vilmorin Andrieux & Cie, 4 Quai de la Mégisserie, Paris (1er), Plantes 1938.
Marquita (Cayeux 1931). Divisions supérieures énormes, blanc d’ivoire, styles très larges, soufrés. Divisions inférieures à fond ivoire tout réticulé et chargé de rouge fraise écrasée s’éclairant sur les bords en blanc jaunâtre. Hampe solide et ramifiée. Certificat de mérite de la S.N.H.F.

Robert Wayman Bayside, New York. Catalog for 1940-41.
MARQUITA (Cayeux 1931) Given an Award of Merit by the American Iris Society in 1936. If I were to select a dozen outstanding Iris from the thousands of varieties that have been introduced to date, Marquita would be one of the dozen. It is so unusual and so beautiful that it is always wanted by anyone who sees it in bloom, but this is the first time it has been offered at a moderate price. It is a magnificent French creation, that has given us something entirely new in Iris, for it is in a class all by itself. The huge flowers are of brilliant smooth ivory, with an eggshell finish, with brilliant ruby lines running almost evenly from base to apex of falls. As the flower ages the centre of the flower turns solid red leaving a cream colored border."

Cooleys Gardens, Silverton, Oregon. Iris Catalog 1937. 
MARQUITA. A well named iris in brilliant ivory yellow, with ochraceous maroon veinings on the falls. The standards are ivory deepening to sulphur at the base, and so large that they constitute the major portion of the flower. Falls are of the same color, but entirely lined maroon. This very late novelty was one of the two or three most popular things among our visitors last season.Each $2.00; 3 for $5.00

Oakhurst Gardens, Arcadia, California. Iris 1939. 
MARQUITA  (Cayeux) A favorite from France. Huge flowers of creamy yellow with falls heavily lined rose-pink, blending into a water-color wash at the end of the petals. It never fails to attract attention to itself. 36 in 

Milliken Gardens, 385 W. Colorado Street, Arcadia, California, Irises 1948
MARQUITA (Cayeux)
Something entirely different that is so striking that it immediately attracts your attention. The standards are a very clear ivory flushed with yellow and the falls are the same color, evenly veined with brilliant ruby lines. The petals are stiff and round, giving a very trim appearance to the flower. If you wish to light up a spot in your garden with gay colors, try a clump of Marquita. Over 3 feet tall and a strong grower .............................40c ; 3 for $1 .00

René Cayeux, 124 rue Camille-Groult, Vitry-sur-Seine, près Paris, Seine. Iris Catalogue 1951.
Marquita Un des iris les plus célèbres, toujours très demandé; grosse fleur à substance bien ferme, résistant aux plus fortes intempéries. P. ivoire, S. à fond rouge fraise écrasées bordé jaune clair avec streis également jaune bien différenciées. T. Hr 0,80m.

René Cayeux, 124 rue Camille-Groult, Vitry-sur-Seine, près Paris, Seine. Iris Catalogue 1952. 
Marquita. T. Hauteur 0m80.Un des iris les plus célèbres toujours très demandé. Grosse fleur à substance bien ferme résistant aux plus fortes intempéries. P. ivoire, S. à fond rouge fraise écrasées bordé jaune clair avec stries également jaune bien différenciées.

Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014. 
MARQUITA
Tall bearded -Late-season  - Height :8ocm- colour: Bi-Colour
Rightfully one of the most famous Cayeux creations. Ivory standards and strawberry red falls with a pale yellow edge and a number of creamy yellow stripes. Sunny yellow beards.

AIS Checklist 1939
MARQUITA TB-M-Y5L (Cay 1931) Cayeux 1931 ; 1938 ; Patterson 1938 ; Charles Wassenberg 1938 ; (..............X HELIOS) ; C.M. S.N.H.F. A.M., A.I.S. 1936 ;

AIS Checklist 1949
MARQUITA TB-M-Y9L (Cay 1931); Etc ; (SYMPHONIE X HELIOS (Cay)) ; etc.; (corr. and new data).


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

Major Hat Tip and "Merci beaucoup" to my good friend Richard Cayeux for sharing with you all the amazing photos of 'Marquita' and to Catherine Adam without doubt the best 'go to person' regarding French Historic Irises.

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