• • • Finest Iris 
SAN DIEGO (Mitchell). Derives its 
huge size from El Capitan, one of its 
parents, and its deep rich color from 
Souv. Mme. Gaudichau. Very showy, 
deep rich blue-violet. Lack of stock 
in comparison to the demand has al¬ 
ways kept our stock too low to dis¬ 
play this one well, but even without 
stock enough to give us a very large 
planting, San Diego has always been 
a most compelling, regal iris. Sur¬ 
passed only by the new and startling- 
variety Brunhilde. H. M., A. I. S., 1931. 
Mid-season. 46".35c; 3 for 85c 
SAN FRANCISCO. One of the largest 
white plicatas. Introduced many years 
ago and still ranks with the best in 
this class. Both standards and falls 
are distinctly edged blue. Blooms are 
large and well spaced on tall low- 
branched stems. San Francisco is a 
vigorous grower, but needs winter pro¬ 
tection in very cold climates. Was 
awarded the Dykes Medal for the best 
American introduction in 1927. Mid¬ 
season. 40".25c; 3 for 50c; 
6 for 85c; 12 for $1.50 
SAN GABRIEL. A very large pinkish 
lavender of high excellence adding to 
its other merits the virtue of being 
early and long blooming. Well 
branched and very graceful. Contains 
half mesopotamica, and although some 
varieties having as much mesopotamica 
blood are hardy, San Gabriel is tender 
and does not winter well except in mild 
climates. Fragrant. 60"..35c; 3 for 85c 
SAN LUIS REY. A large violet-red 
iris of beautifully rounded form and 
rich heavy substance, set off by a gold¬ 
en beard and a yellow center. 
20c; 3 for 50c 
SANTA BARBARA. This is the finest 
ium high-branched, periwinkle blue self 
size, substance, spreading horizontal 
falls, well branched stalks and the 
vigor of growth entitle this beautiful 
iris to be rated with the highest. A. M., 
R. H. S. Early. 40"....25c; 3 for 50c; 
12 for $1.50; 25 for $2.50 
SANTA CLARA (Mitchell). Tall, med¬ 
ium high-branched, periwinkle blue self 
of noble and beautiful form. The flow¬ 
er is very large, flaring as to falls, 
heavy as to substance and has ruffled 
edges. Being bred from Santa Bar¬ 
bara and Gaudichau, it carries the fine 
quality of the former into a darker 
flower. This comely iris ranks with 
the newer and more expensive varie¬ 
ties. One of the leading blues in com¬ 
merce. Ideally branched. Mid-season. 
44" ..25c; 3 for 50c 
SENSATION (Cayeux). A beautiful 
self-colored aniline-blue of great poise 
and elegance. The substance is hea-vy, 
the standards beautifully arched, the 
falls flaring and the stems tall and 
sturdy. Fragrant. Late. 36". 
25c; 3 for 50c 
LUCERNE 
1940 Seedling Introduction 
See description, page 3 
SEDUCTION (Cayeux). A splendid 
new plicata from France that has lived 
up to its advance reports. As unusual 
as any plicata we have ever seen. 
Large and of good form, it is complete¬ 
ly distinct from both the Mitchell giant 
plicatas and Spring Cloud, the new 
Stafford Jory origination. The growth, 
size of bloom, and fine branching habit 
of these other plicatas is present in 
Seduction, but the flowers have vein- 
ings and stitchings of lilac, rather than 
of blue. Ground color, white. Late. 
44". A. M., A. I. S., 1937. 
$1.00; 3 for $2.50 
SHINING WATERS. To our mind this 
iris is the very finest of Professor Es- 
sig’s many striking blue iris. Aptly 
described by one of the A. 1. S. judges 
as: “The outstanding pale blue, a 
lovely color, not too pale to have char¬ 
acter, with beautiful texture, splendid 
substance and a great tall stem, well 
branched.” Another says, “The blue 
that stole the show here, though, was 
Shining Waters, and now that it is 
down in price, no garden should be 
without it. Shining Waters is just 
about as near perfect as I have ever 
seen an iris.” Tall and stately. Shin¬ 
ing Waters carries twelve or more 
buds to each of its well branched 
stalks. Needs special protection where 
winters are severe, but well worth the 
effort. A. M., A. I. S., 1935. Mid-season. 
48".35c; 3 for 85c 
SHASTA (Mitchell). Entirely distinct 
from the immaculate Purissima, this 
splendid white, which is hardy every¬ 
where, still ranks as one of the very 
best whites. It is most floriferous, its 
stalks are high, but well branched, and 
it is a rapid increaser — a combination 
which establishes it as unexcelled when 
planted in large clumps and beds—for 
it makes a solid mass of white when in 
bloom. Mid-season. 36". 
25c; 3 for 50c; 12 for $1.50 
SIERRA BLUE (Essig). The most out¬ 
standing all-climate blue of all. A 
Dykes Medal winner that was well 
worthy of the honor, and an iris which 
will hold its own for many, many years. 
Clear in color, and unusually tall and 
stately, with huge, showy blooms. Sier¬ 
ra Blue is truly a Championship iris, 
an iris without competition in its class. 
Probably the tallest blue in com¬ 
merce, and so vigorous of growth that 
it stands up under wind or rain, des¬ 
pite its tremendous height. The color 
is soft, clear blue, the form most grace¬ 
ful, and there is no veining to the flow¬ 
er. A slow increaser, and in strong 
demand — therefore stock is definite¬ 
ly limited. Early. 50". 
50c; 3 for $1.00; 12 for $3.50 
SIERRA SNOW (Kleinsorge 1938). 
((Purissima x Rameses) X Far West). 
Although there are many new whites, 
we feel that Sierra Snow is definitely 
“The” all-climate white. Although only 
one-quarter Purissima, it carries the 
beauty of that variety into a white 
iris that, at last, is hardy. In addition, 
it blooms later in the season than does 
Purissima, therefore does not compete 
with it, even in California. 
In addition to its fine form and habit. 
Sierra Snow has a beautiful trans¬ 
lucent quality that sets it apart from 
all other whites, and which is the par¬ 
ticular quality that causes one to 
like Sierra Snow better with time. It 
is tall, candelabrum branched, and is 
as smooth as Purissima, and in almost 
the same shade of white, just a shade 
warmer and clearer, and with just as 
fine a finish — plus its unusual trans- 
lucence. Bloomed beautifully in South 
Dakota. Mid-season. 45". 
$7.50; 3 for $15.00 
SIEGFRIED (H. P. Sass). An iris in an 
unusual type of plicata. Not a perfect 
iris as judged by iris standards of 
perfection, but an iris of grace and 
beauty. The standards are a rich 
golden bronze, the falls are rather long 
and are white with purple stitching on 
the margins. Blooms appear on tall 
rather high-branched stems. Not a 
rapid multiplier. Stock still scarce. 
H. M., A. I. S. Mid-season. 40"....$4.00 
Few plants are hardier than iris. They 
endure the severest winters without re¬ 
quiring undue protection. Nearly all iris 
are perfectly hardy everywhere, although 
two factors in early iris breeding did pro¬ 
duce a few varieties that did not winter 
well, except in regions such as Califor¬ 
nia, where the climate is mild. Fortun¬ 
ately, both of these factors have been 
practically eliminated, and those few 
varieties in our list which are tender 
where winters are severe are so noted in 
the descriptions. 
Pago 19 
