26 
COLOR COMBINATIONS FOR THE IRIS GARDEN 
F. ELMER HALLBERG, L. A., HOPKINS, MINN. 
Do you plant the Iris in your garden alphabetically? Of course 
not. That is ridiculous! But how many Iris growers try to ar- 
range their garden in such a way that the colors of one plant will 
enhance the other? Generally, an Iris garden is merely an indis- 
criminate accumulation of plants. You can do better if you pay 
attention to a few rules of color combination. It has been learned 
that certain colors ‘look good’’ together in the garden. For 
instance, yellow and blue. But it also has been discovered that 
if these two colors are of equal intensity and depth of light or 
darkness the combination is not as pleasant as if one is very 
intense, say the yellow, while the other is somewhat paler. Thus 
a strong yellow iris like Golden Hind looks very lovely with 
Shining Waters. Another rule worthy of consideration, if you 
wish to combine several plants of each kind, it is well to increase 
the quantity of the pale variety while decreasing the quantity of 
the intense variety. Then the intense color is balanced with the 
greater mass of pale color. With these rules in mind let us con- 
sider a few combinations that are especially pleasing. (While 
doing this, bear in mind the time of bloom and the variation in 
height.) If one variety is left out a dual combination may be 
used instead of a triple. 
WHITE IRIS may be used with practically all other colors 
except pale bronzy blends and the brownish reds. It will make 
these look dirty. White is best used with pink or light blue. 
The three colors may be used together with pleasant effect. 
Example: 
GUDRUN-CHINA MAID-NARAIN 
MATTERHORN-MOROCCO ROSE-GREAT LAKES 
PLICATAS are white, or pale yellow blossoms, marked with 
blue, pink or brown. They should be combined with others that 
repeat the colors of the plicata variety allowing it to dominate 
since it will be the weaker of the two. 
Example: 
LOS ANGELES-SIERRA BLUE-WINTER CARNIVAL 
BLUE SHIMMER-THE ADMIRAL-SNOW CARNIVAL 
PRISCILLA-LADY OF SHALOTT-MELANIE-INSPIRATION 
PRISCILLA-SEDUCTION-ANGELUS-VIOLET CROWN 
TIFFANY-INSPIRATION-GOLDEN TREASURE 
AMOENAS combine with a Jarger mass of the lighter color 
and only a few of the darker color. 
SHAH JEHAN-CAROLINE BURR-SMOLDER 
MARQUITA-GOLDEN TREASURE-MULBERRY ROSE 
WABASH-WHITE GODDESS-BLACK WINGS 
LIGHT BLUES. Sky color, like green, is everywhere present 
and can be combined with almost all others satisfactorily. How- 
ever some coppery red blends are perhaps better with creamy 
yellows. 
Example: 
BLUE MONARCH-GOLDEN MAJESTY 
GREAT LAKES-MISS CALIFORNIA 
SHINING WATERS-SALMON SPLENDOR 
MEDIUM BLUE. 
Example: 
NARAIN-GOLDEN HIND 
THE ADMIRAL-GOLDEN TREASURE-CHRISTABEL 
JANICE-THE RED DOUGLAS 
DARK BLUES and VIOLETS are spices to give accent to light 
colors. The light color should dominate numerically. 
Example: 
DEEP VELVET-MIDWEST GEM-SNOQUALMIE 
SABLE-INSPIRATION-GOLDEN TREASURE 
BONSOR-REMEMBRANCE-PRAIRIE SUNSET 
MAUVE and MAUVE BLENDS with blues, cream yellow, 
light pink. 
Example: 
VIOLET CROWN-IMPERIAL BLUSH-SPARKLING BLUE 
WM. MOHR-ANITRA-SABLE 
OZONE-COPPER ROSE-INDIAN HILLS 
LIGHT PINKS. These combine best with mid-blue, creamy 
yellow or white, although various shades from light to dark are 
pleasant together; also fine with purple. 
Example: 
MELANIE-MISSOURI-ELSA SASS 
MOROCCO ROSE-MISTY GOLD-GOLDEN MAJESTY 
PINK REFLECTION-WAKARUSA-GOLDEN BEAR 
HARRIET THOREAU-INSPIRATION-INDIAN HILLS- SA- 
BLE in front, back this with a mass of GOLDEN TREAS- 
URE and one OLA KALA 
SPINDRIFT-INSPIRATION-BROWN THRASHER 
PINK CAMEO-TOBACCO ROAD-INDIAN HILLS 
DEEP PINKS. The selfs are best with light blue or cream. 
Some of the bicolors and blends with a yellow suffusion are good 
with some of the orange, copper reds and red browns. 
Example: 
MISS CALIFORNIA-ANITRA-GOLDEN TREASURE 
AT DAWNING-GOLDEN EAGLE-THELMA JEAN 
DEPUTE NOMBLOT-ANITRA-INSPIRATION 
ARETHUSA-COPPER LUSTRE-FAIR ELAINE 
PURPLES generally are easy to use. Combine with light blue, 
pink, yellow and cream. 
Example: 
INDIAN HILLS-AZURE SKIES-CHINA MAID 
ELMOHR-MISSOURI-ELSA SASS 
VATICAN PURPLE-MING YELLOW-WEST POINT 
DESTINY-CHIEF POKING FIRE-GOLDEN BEAR 
REDS. This is one of the most difficult groups to handle. 
Analyze the color of your particular flower, determine what colors 
are its components. Use other flowers of these elemental com- 
ponents in combination. Sometimes a dash of yellow or blended 
pink helps out. Purple reds may be used as purples in combina- 
tions with others. 
Example: 
CHIEF POKING FIRE-SABLE-STARDOM 
WAKARUSA-RANGITIKEI-GOLDEN HIND 
LOUVOIS-BONSOR-BERKELEY GOLD 
STAINED GLASS-MAJENICA-GOLDEN TREASURE 
CHRISTABEL-REMEMBRANCE-MISTY GOLD 
JASPER AGATE-OZONE-REGENCY ROSE 
THE RED DOUGLAS-FRIEDA MOHR-LORI MAY 
JASPER AGATE-LAMPLIGHT-SNOQUALMIE 
YELLOW BICOLORS. Combine with elemental colors. 
CITY OF LINCOLN-BRYCE CANYON-GOLDEN SPIKE 
FRANK ADAMS-LIGHTHOUSE-SUNSET TAN 
YELLOW BLENDS. Very difficult to handle. Combine yel- 
low and blue blends with pale blue or cream yellows. Yellow 
buff blends with pale blue or deeper tan blends and cream. Tan 
blends with pale blue or red-browns. Apricot blends with deep 
pink and yellows. Salmon toned with mid blue and purple. 
Example: 
VALIENT-GOLDEN HIND-NARAIN 
SORRENTE-SUN HAWK-ANITRA 
GLEN ELLEN-SUNSET TAN-REGENCY ROSE 
BROWN THRASHER-RANGITIKEI-PINK CAMEO 
TOBACCO ROAD-CAROLINE BURR-BANDMASTER 
STARDOM-CHRISTABEL-GOLDEN SPIKE 
PRAIRIE SUNSET-IDANHA-OLD PARCHMENT 
LEMON YELLOW combines with almost everything except 
some blends which are dirty in comparison so use with clear 
colored selfs. Especially good with deep blues and violets. 
MEDIUM GOLD use with pale blues, violets, purples, deep 
rose selfs and most of the ‘‘reds.”’ 
DEEP YELLOW with medium blue, deep rose, purple, violet, 
purple-red blends and pale yellow. Note use of yellow in fore- 
going list for other suggestions. 
N.B. Frequently similar varieties to those mentioned in the 
above color study may be substituted without destroying the 
color effect. 
