Pacific Coast Iris

Fashions in Iris breeding and the end result, the blossom's are constantly changing. Pacific Coast Irises are little known Irises,outside Iris circles. Flowering well ahead of the Tall Bearded Irises,the evergreen, tough plants, and could become a landscape designers dream plant should they ever become available commercially.

Paid a visit to a good friend and Iris colleague Gareth Winters and his fantastic collection of Pacific Coast Iris seedling, mostly all his own crosses. Totally amazing how these Irises have advanced in colour and form over the past decade.
Gareth is a great writer on all things horticulture which is very evident in his blog 'Irises and Archives', he is the Editor of the biannual journal 'ALMANAC' for the Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris, Writes a weekly garden page for the local Newspaper 'The Wairarapa Times Age' , and the Archivist for the Wairarapa Archive.













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Will post some more photos from this collection soon.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Freesia alba Burtonii

Freesia alba Burtonii
Iridaceae

This plant is a New Zealand classic garden icon, blooms with an amazing perfume that for me heralds the start of spring.
It is a sport of Freesia refracta alba, is much improved and is a very fragrant white flower of outstanding quality and size.
A bulb flower that is almost a pure creamy-white with yellow lower lip which is quite free from outer purple markings, and is twice the size of Freesia refracta alba.
It appeared by chance in the private Nelson gardens of Mrs Burton in the 1930's and the owner conferred a benefit on posterity by segregating and propagating it.
The flowers are generally sterile and seed is very seldom seen, so stock must be increased by divisions which is helped by its vigorous growth creating large bulbs.
Great for mass plantings and for picking as flowers are produced abundantly for two months from early spring.
A bulb variety that got lost in the clamour of 'big box' garden centres to sell the latest and greatest using the 'one plant fits all' criteria, which inevitably created a lack of retail demand for this variety so it was taken off commercial growers catalogues. Freesia alba Burtonii can now can only generally be found on garden groups sales tables, so if you can find it, get it, I guarantee you will enjoy it!


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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New Zealand Native "Clematis paniculata"

New Zealand Native Clematis paniculata (syn. C. indivisa)

Our beautiful native Clematis which the Maoris call 'puawhananga' apparently meaning the 'The Sacred Flower' is a stand out spring feature dotted on the Hills of Bush I drive over each day on my journey to work. The starry white, lightly scented blossoms that herald the Spring, are up to four inches across, and on mass in the native bush look like small patches of snow on the tops of trees. All of the nine species of Clematis native to New Zealand are evergreen, and of these C. paniculata is the largest flowered and most spectacular. In Autumn it again features a grand display with its fluffy silvery seed heads.
Simply grown up the side of a tree as in its native habitat, and as with almost all clematis keep its root run cool, I give it a feed annually in the Autumn with some good quality leaf mould, then all that is required is 'Do not disturb'.

It is a pity that this native species is not more widely grown in New Zealand gardens, as it can be easily propagated by cuttings or seed.

Photo taken in the early morning sun in the garden this morning.

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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris 'PROUD TRADITION'

'Proud Tradition' is in my opinion the best 'Neglecta' when it comes to the "classic modern form". It has wide and lightly ruffled deep Hyacinth blue falls with light blue standards which are displayed on fine stems that yield eight to ten buds. Matching blue beards that are lightly tipped yellow, which contribute to the overall good effect. Better than great health, with average vigour and increase. A respected variety that has a prominent place growing in our garden at home.

 CONTEMPORARY VIEWS Perry Dyer —1994/1995
The SUN BELT AWARD is given to the Best Proven Variety, i.e., one that has been on the market long enough to be thoroughly tested in the Midwest (at least 4 years): PROUD TRADITION (Schreiner 1990) has developed into the finest neglecta, for overall performance, in the Heartland. It is a very masculine flower, with a rich velvet texture, broad parts with virtually no ruffling. The color saturation is complete, with heaviest of substance, allowing the flower to retain all its pigmentation through the life of the flower. The stalks are husky and tall, holding up the large flowers with dignity.The plant habits are impeccable, with huge thick plants with strong increase. A total vision of health, head to toe.

Schreiners 75th Diamond Anniversary 2000 Iris Lovers Catalog
PROUD TRADITION (Schreiner 1990) EM, 36"
This blue Bi-tone boasts impeccable colouration coupled with classic form. Held with stately flare, the wide ruffled falls boasts a uniformed deep hyacinth blue while the arched silver blue add an impeccable finishing touch. Proud Tradition's excellent stems yield 8-10 double socketed buds per stalk HM 1992, AM 1994

AIS Checklist 1999
'Proud Tradition' (Schreiner, R.1990). Seedling W 164-A. TB, height 36" (91 cm), early to mid season bloom. Standards light blue (RHS 91C); falls ruffled medium blue (93A); beards blue, tipped yellow. J 50-G: (D 241-1: ((First Violet x King's Choice) x (Allegiance x ((Pierre Menard x Blue Ensign) x Harbor Blue)) x ((First Violet x Arabi Pasha) x (Salem x Bluebird Blue))) x Navy Strut) X Royal Crusader. Schreiner 1990.

Still been sold ($12.50) by Schreiners 20 years after its introduction from their web site (Listed in the Iris Links on this page.)
For such a stand out Iris it is somewhat bewildering to find that this iris is not sold by any commercial grower in New Zealand!!!!
Its a real privilege to feature this variety on my return to writing for the blog.
Clicking the above image will automagically take you to the larger, higher resolution version.

Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Heirloom Tall Bearded Iris "CATERINA"

Perhaps one of my great finds in New Zealand this year is an Heirloom Iris of significant historical importance growing in an Auckland garden.

Sir Michael Foster is justly looked up to as the pioneer and founder of the modern cult and cultivation of the Iris, and in 1888 he crossed I. pallida with I. cypriana, both of these irises at the time being considered collected wild species. The result, a selected seedling 'Caterina' (named after the Queen of Cyprus) was introduced. It was one of the first tetraploid hybrids, and proved to be invaluable for introducing plant size, vigour, plants with taller well-branched stems, and larger flowers to the world of tall bearded iris breeding. The hybrid vigour of this hand-cross produced seedlings that in comparison to the predominant diploids of the day were spectacular. Many of the early pioneers of tall bearded iris breeding, including Amos Perry, Geoffrey Pilkington, Sir Arthur Hort, George Yeld, Louis Dennis, Grace Sturtevant, B. Y Morrison, William H Mohr, the Sass Brothers, Edward Essig used 'Caterina' in their breeding, making it an ancestor of some of the best irises. As an example, William Mohr used 'Caterina' in a cross with I. mesopotamica to raise a seedling he named 'Argentina' (1923) which he then crossed to 'Conquistador', (1923) (Juniata X I. mesopotamica) to produce 'Purissima' (1927) . This was considered to be one of the all time greats in the colour white and was used extensively in hybridising. When 'Purissima' was crossed with 'Thais' it passed on its genetics plus its pure white colour to the outstanding tall bearded iris 'Snow Flurry', (1939). Seventy years ago this must have seemed like a miracle in outstanding hybridisation. When I sent the above photo to Phil Edinger for conformation of its identity, his informative reply was , “CATERINA! And a very nice shot of her, too!! One almost-diagnostic feature is the stalk. Often, as it elongates, the upper part will bend over. Sometimes it remains that way to some extent, with the terminal blossom at an odd angle. More frequently, though, the stalk will recover from the bend and grow upright but leave a bend or "crook" in the stem. The "official" description in AIS Bulletin 6 notes "stalk apt to be flexuous."

The Dean lris Gardens, Growers and Importers of Choice Iris, 1914 Catalog, Moneta, California.
IRIS CATERINA
THE late Sir Michael Foster, of England, devoted many years to the study of the Iris, collecting from all parts of the world wherever they are to be found-and also produced a large number of hybrids. Had he been trying to produce an Iris among his hybrids, particularly adapted to our climate, he could not have done better than when he gave us Caterina. It is a queen among Irises beautiful for any climate.

'We quote from two of the leading Iris growers of England regarding this Iris.'

"A lovely hybrid raised by the late Sir Michael Foster, from I.Cypriana and I. Pallida; the flowers are of great size and borne on long, stout branching stems, standards light clear blue, falls soft lilac-blue, delicately fragrant, 4½ feet. Award of Merit R.H.S."

"A very pretty hybrid, one of the very best of the late Sir Michael Foster's pets; a cross between Cypriana X Pallida, having large, conspicuous pale mauve flowers, with a brownish marking at base and a very conspicuous yellow beard. A.M., R.H.S."

The foliage being persistent throughout the year, the plant is ornamental at all times, with its broad leaves some two feet tall. The growth of the plant being checked a part of the year in colder climates, no doubt the blooming period is not as long as it is with us. It comes into bloom here about the 6th of April, and with proper care remains in bloom for two months and more. Our own stock, although divided last year, has not been without bloom for three months and is still making new flowering stems at this writing. The flowers are borne on branching stems, some four feet tall; most of the stems produce from fifteen to twenty blossoms, often five flowers being open on a stem at a time. The flowers measure 5½ inches from top of standards to bottom of falls. The plants do not throw up a quantity of flowering stems simultaneously, as many Irises of this class do, but instead seem to court our attention and admiration, by modestly extending their blooming period over such a long season.
We can confidently recommend it to those who have room for but a few plants and want something choice, and also that will give increased pleasure from year to year, as well as to those with more ample space, and who can perhaps afford to plant more liberally of it. Our stock is guaranteed true to name. The price at which this Iris is held, both in Europe and by the growers in the Eastern States who list it, proves that its worth is appreciated. The grower from whom we secured our stock in England writes us that this plant is getting very scarce, and many forms are being sold, both in England and elsewhere, as Caterina. For this reason, and the fact that the stock does not multiply as rapidly as that of some of the more common bearded varieties, the price will not be much reduced for some time to come.

AIS Bulletin #6 October 1922, Description of Varieties Part 1
CATERINA 8.9 (19)
Self, V. (1). Foster, 1909
Brief. Bluish lavender the falls slightly flushed lavender violet; S. fluted, tips touching; F. drooping; stalk low and well-branched; growth very variable; to 4 ft.
Details. Haft reticulations broad, widely spaced, brownish; beard white.yellow tip; stalk apt to be flexuous.
Remarks. A. M. R. H. S., 1907. Very fine in California but in the North it requires the most thoro drainage as it is subject to rot and winter killing.

The Iris Society (BIS) Bulletin No.2 May, 1925 'Sir Michael Foster and his Irises'.

 Sir Arthur Hort discussed his good friend’s work, and wrote “Foster gave me a bit of his original plant of Cypriana a name to which there are several pretenders. It has if I remember right (for I fear it is no more) as a rather weak stem and a large floppy red-purple flower; like Mesopotamica its best use is perhaps for hybridising. From it Foster raised several fine things. The finest and the best known are Caterina and Lady Foster, the later named I think by Mr Wallace after Sir Michaels death; Mr Wallace and I both I believe, first saw it at Shelford the same day. Caterina well illustrates the wisdom of seeding from a good hybrid.”
Sir Arthur Hort also made the following observation in the same article in regards to I. pallida , “Foster's collected pallida forms are very numerous ; he showed me once a bed of thirty arranged in order of stature and exhibiting what he called, 'The degeneration of pallida.'”

W R Dykes 'Handbook of Garden Irises' published 1924 page 226

'Caterina (48ins., Foster, 1909), pale lavender, flowers large but a weak stem, often unable to hold itself erect;” and from page 232, 'In this country little had been done before 1900 to raise garden hybrids on a large scale. Foster had made a few experiments with new introductions and obtained such good hybrids as Caterina and Miss Willmott but they were produced rather as the result of other enquiries and not as an end in themselves'.

A H Burgess and Son Waikanae Wellington 1926 catalogue.
CATERINA Large blue self, veined dark brown at the throat. Rather floppy. Must be staked. Early 1 shilling

CORNELL MEMOIR 100, Study of Pogoniris Varieties, Austin W.W. Sand, July 1926.
Color effect a bluish lavender to soft lilac, olive veined self: size large; form long, compact, rounded; flowering habit free ; tall bearded class; height 24-48 ins.; branching fastigate, low to high, two laterals; A flower of good substance; firm texture; smooth surface; good fragrance; good lasting quality. Its delicately colored, large sized blooms make excellent cut flowers and build up well in mass or specimen clumps. A most fragrant variety.
S. light lavender, reticulated with olive on the yellowish claw, carriage ad-pressed to arching; blade obovate, notched, undulate, ruffled, revolute, slightly cockled; size 2 in. wide, 3 in. long. F. lavender-violet, with whitish outer haft, widely reticulated with olive, becoming brown on the yellowed haft; carriage widely drooping; wedge shaped convex, oblong ; size 1⅞ in. wide. 3⅛ in. long. Minor parts; beard coarse, sparse, projecting, white tipped with yellow; haft very broad channelled; reticulations broad, close to widely spaced; style-branches medium broad overarching; crest small fringed; pollen plentiful; spathe-valves scarious. Growth moderate; increase slow to rapid; habit compact; foliage stiff, leaves broad, deep glaucous green; 2 blooms open at once, floriferous; stalk angular, slightly flexuous, with six or more buds. An I. trojana or I. cypriana X I. pallida hybrid. Requires a well drained situation.

The Dean lris Gardens 1916 Catalog

AIS Checklist 1929
CATERINA TB-B1M, Foster 1909 (cypriana X pallida)
Received Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1907

A Major Hat Tip to Audrey McCarrison for growing an iris she loves, and also to Phil Edinger for the interaction of thoughts and discussions concerning 'Caterina'. Perhaps one of the great outcomes when finding historic irises is the sharing of information and the friendships that are formed with those genuinely interested in historic Irises. As referred to above the merits and all the exciting contributions that Snow Flurry" made to the world of modern tall bearded irises will be elaborated in a separate post at a later date.

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Top photo credit and copyright Audrey McCarrison
Article copyright Iris Hunter.

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Tall Bearded Iris 'TOUCH OF MAHOGANY'

Barry Blyth's, 'Touch of Mahogany' is a totally different look with its varying tones of russets, browns, and ruby red burgundy. Ruffling in the falls inherited no doubt from its very famous brown pollen parent 'Copatonic'. Certainly a surprise I like!!!

Tempo Two Catalogue 2005-2006
Touch of Mahogany Blyth 99 ML 36" Standards are coffee-brown with slight gold infusion. Falls coffee-brown overlaid soft lavender with striking burgundy hafts rouged down each side of the old gold beards setting the whole flower alive. Good branching, show stems, and a fine parent. Chestnut Avenue X Copatonic.

AIS Checklist 1999
TOUCH OF MAHOGANY (Barry Blyth, R. 1999) Sdlg. E123-2. TB, 36" (91 cm), ML; S. coffee brown, slight gold infusion; F. coffee brown, overlaid soft lavender around old gold beard, 1" burgundy hafts; pronounced sweet fragrance. Chestnut Avenue X Copatonic. Tempo Two 1999/2000.

Photo Credit and Copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris 'BREAKERS'

A delightful self of medium-blue colour 'Breakers' flowers on well-branched stems. Blooms late spring and sometimes early autumn. For me the rebloom is a intermittent bonus, but should not be relied on, but that aside its still one of our favorite blue irises. Generally speaking 'Breakers' was readily available a few years ago from a lot of commercial growers but for the life of me I cannot find a listing with a grower in New Zealand that I can recommend. Not sure why this is as it is a very good grower.
 
Schreiner's, Salem,Oregon, 75th Diamond Anniversary, 2000 Iris Lovers Catalog.
BREAKERS (Schreiner 1986) ML & RE 37"
Here is a bubbly and effervescent Iris whose undulating petals create a remarkable billowing effect. The superb blue color is applied with a clean uniformity. Fine size flowers are displayed on four branched stems with 8-10 buds.

AIS Checklist 1989
BREAKERS (Schreiner's, R. 1986). Sdlg. M 39-C. TB 37" (94 cm) M. Fluted and heavily ruffled true blue; dull blue beard tipped yellow ln throat. Victoria Falls X I 43-C: (Shipshape x Sailor's Dance)., Schreiner's 1986. HM 1988, AM 1990
 
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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris "ORANGE EMPIRE"

'Orange Empire' is one of the great orange Irises from the 70's which was widely used as a parent in the 80's. Thirty seven years have past since its registration date and its still an amazing looker.This variety is fertile both ways. The Maerz and Paul, Dictionary of Color, 1st edition colour determination of Saturn Red is a bang on description for this iris beard colour. Was not what I had imagined the colour to be, but thanks to colour charts and hybridisers references to colour names in the checklist all helps a lot.

'Cross Country Comments' Bulletin of the American Iris Society, No.223, October 1976.
ORANGE EMPIRE (Hamner 1974)
A vibrant orange of rather large size. It is a vigorous grower which is a quality welcome in this color class. Also it is a tireless bloomer and for me leaves more than ample increase for the next season. (Reviewed Francesca Thoolen)

AIS Checklist 1979
ORANGE EMPIRE (B. Hamner, R. 1973). Sdlg. 69-40. TB 37" (94 cm) M-L. Brilliant orange self; Saturn red beard; ruffled. (Sexton sdlg. x China Gate) X (China Gate sdlg. x Ole)., Hamner 1974.

Not commercially listed in New Zealand but still widely available in America from Angel Iris Farm, Blue J Iris, Bluebird Haven Iris Garden, Daylily Haven Iris Gardens, Exline Iris Gardens, Newport Naturals, Wanda Rezac Iris, and Wild Iris Rows.

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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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Tall Bearded Iris 'CARNIVAL TIME'

A well named solid performer from Schreiners that is a welcome sight in the garden. Brown toned Irises otherwise known as blends can be susceptible to regional difference when it comes to colour tone and difference in colour can be due to mineral content in the soil. 'Carnival Time' is a 34 year old veteran yet its form is current. Fertile both ways.

Schreiner's Iris Lovers Catalog 1982
 CARNIVAL TIME (Schreiner 1976) E.36"
This buoyantly rich shaded blend presents a pageant of color. It's animated rich shade of burnt sugar brown is embellished by a crispness of texture. An air of exuberant ruffling accentuates this happy mood.An ideal stem and branching habit. Flowers are fully rounded and broad ; a lavish colorful blend of quality. HM '79

AIS Checklist 1979
CARNIVAL TIME (Schreiner's, R. 1976). Sdlg. F 187-G. TB 36" (91 cm) E. Ruffled deep burnt sugar brown, finely etched with deeper brown to orange texture veining; deep brown to orange beard. B 533-2: (Wild Ginger x Taste of Honey) X Dutch Chocolate., Schreiner's 1976.

It is an appropriate named Iris to celebrate Heritage Irises completing it's 2nd year publishing milestone in the world of digital media. Started as a database for Irises growing at home, and I still consider it as my Digital Iris diary.

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Photo credit and copyright Iris Hunter

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