Iris ODDITIES and RARITIES See 
Iris From the Uttermost Parts of the Earth for Your Iris Wonderland 
How true it is that “Distance lends enchantment’. Is there anyone who does not 
secretly wish he might start today on a leisurely trip around the world? If you are an Iris 
lover, we know what you would be looking for. But just in case your journey is delayed, 
we have gathered in for you, from the four corners of the earth, those Iris rarities you 
would see if you were to travel far and wide; and we present for your enjoyment 12 light- 
ning-quick magic carpet excursions to remote places, and the Iris peculiar to them. These 
include various floral treasures not elsewhere available in America. These do not have 
the huge flowers, tall stems and large rhizomes of familiar Tall Bearded Iris, rather, they 
are sought for their charm and daintiness, their usefulness in flower arrangements and 
corsages, their habit of blooming when flowers are scarce, or their strange appearance. 
In short, they are UNUSUAL. Each year there will be new kinds for you. Shipped chiefly 
in fall; some in late summer if plants mature early. Order NOW to get your choice. Full 
cultural directions in our MANUAL. 
Rare BULBOUS Iris 
These are suitable for both garden and pot culture. 
BOKHARA IRIS (Iris bucharica) *** 2 for $1.55; 4 for $2.75 
Our first flight by magic carpet is to distant Bokhara, a country we find as steeped in 
mysticism as its neighbors Afghanistan and India. The Iris inhabiting that segment of 
the earth’s surface is so utterly unique, yet adorable, it is unlikely you have ever seen 
one that even faintly resembles it. So we include a life-like portraiture. Strangest 
feature of this Iris is that its flowers are borne in the axils of leaves, which look for all 
the world like those of Indian corn. Real standards are minute, and what seems to be 
standards are actually enlarged ivory style crests. Falls deep yellow, with ridge down 
the center. We feel most fortunate in being able to offer this fully hardy novelty to 
American Iris enthusiasts. VE—15”’. 
FRAGRANT or NETTED IRIS (Iris reticulata) 12 for $1.55; 24 for $2.75 
Next, a quick jaunt to Turkey and Persia, where, in earliest spring, fields of Fragrant 
Iris perfume the air and vie for color brilliance with precious turquoise from the mines. 
A dozen will scent a room with the fragrance of violets. A dazzling red violet. On the falls 
is a golden area surrounded by black, giving a ‘‘tigerskin’’ appearance. Of easiest culture. 
Prized for edgings, rock gardens, for forcing in pots. Plant 6 in a 4-inch pot in the fall 
for Christmas bloom. Hardy outdoors with reasonable protection. Earliest Iris——6’’. 
AFRICAN PERPETUAL IRIS (Morea polystachia) 12 for $1.65; 24 for $2.90 
For this we cross the equator to that most distant of lands, South Africa, home of the 
Moreas. We call this African Perpetual Iris for in reasonably mild climates (or in pots) 
it can be had in bloom for 12 months, by the simple expedient of holding part of the 
bulbs in your refrigerator in a closed jar of the dry packing material in which we ship 
them, and planting some every 2 or 3 months. Each planting will bloom profusely for 
several months. Flowers graceful, like Iris japonica, but bright lilac, with striking orange 
eye. Order enough for several plantings. You'll be delighted. Year-around—20”. 
The Only TUBEROUS Iris 
SNAKE’S HEAD IRIS ** 12 for $1.75; 24 for $2.95 
Our roving instincts now take us to Greece for the most curious member 
of the diverse Iris family. Certainly you have never seen an Iris like 
this: Instead of standards, 6 erect style crests gleaming in mysterious 
jade-green, daringly poised above velvety falls, black as midnight, tipped 
in deeper green. As strange as they come, but hardy, charming, fragrant, 
small enough for miniature bouquets; hence grown by florists for their 
most exclusive corsages. Why not grow your own? Available to us only 
On imports from abroad. EE—4” to 14’’. (Hermodactylus tuberosa) 
Curious RHIZOMATOUS Iris 

BOKHARA IRIS 
but on a much larger scale. The flower stalk is tall, nicely branched, 
and the perfection of the form of Hoogiana has been maintained in this 
new giant. A smooth delphinium blue. The first of a new race. E. 
SPOTLESS (Regelia-Bearded Hybrid) (H. P. Sass ‘39) * $1.25 
From the wide cross of Hoogiana pollinated with the Dwarf Elf Queen 
has come this hardy, floriferous gem, dainty, almost like a white Hoggi- 
ana in form of flower, but larger and easier to grow. Fine for corsages. 
p=) Bike > 
SHERIFFA (Oncogelia-Bearded Hybrid) (C. G. White ’42) $1.00 
The most noteworthy of the extremely rare hybrids containing blood of 
TEUCROS (Oncogelia Hybrid) ** $1.25; 3 for $2.50; 6 for 3.75 
Next we go to Holland where this striking hybrid originated from par- 
ents from Palestine and Turkestan. Described on page 5. So striking, 
listed here so it can be included in the Oddities Collections. E—16”’. 
ZEBRA (Pallida variegata) * See photo, page 19. 2 for $1.75 
An oddity deluxe, also from Holland. The only Iris with leaves striped 
in creamy yellow and green in a pattern much like that of a Zebra. Has 
striking ornamental value from early spring till late fall. Makes excel- 
lent edgings or clumps to attract attention. Just the thing for individual- 
istic flower arrangements and corsages. Flowers light blue. M—30”. 
Exciting WIDE Crosses 
We present this year 4 of the widest Iris crosses ever achieved, and 
representing combinations of parents from distantly separated portions 
of the earth’s surface. 
PALTEC (Evansia-Bearded Hybrid) ** $1.00 
A hybrid resulting from crossing Pallida x Tectorum; so from Tyrol in 
Austria, the home of Pallida, we bound half-way round the world to 
Yunnan, in southwestern China, where Tectorum is indigenous, The 
hybrid Paltec is a dainty sky-blue self of rare beauty, having both the 
crest of the crested Tectorum and the beard of the bearded Pallida, the 
beard being superimposed on top of the crest. EM—18”. 
HOOGSAN (Regelia-Bearded Hybrid) (Samuelson ‘47) * $6.50 
As its name implies, this comes from Hoogiana x San Francisco. The 
seed-parent is native to Southern Turkestan, and San Francisco was 
Dykes Medal winner for America in 1927, noted for tall stems and low, 
candelabra branching. There are many crosses of Oncos and Bearded Iris, 
but only a few of Regelias and Bearded, and we believe this is the finest 
of them all. Its flowers and foliage are strongly suggestive of Hoogiana, 
Oncos, Regelias and Tall Bearded Iris. Thus its ancestors can be traced 
back to Palestine, Turkestan and Eurasia. What an example of the way 
man can bring together, in one form, the good qualities of species that 
Mother Nature left in scattered portions of our globe! Picture a flower 
with a deep blue ground color, flushed and veined in dark red, and 
radiating an electric iridescence. Beard most unusual, brown, tipped 
bright blue. Tall, nicely branched stalks. Exceptionally hardy, adaptable. 
Was introduced at $25 each. Its seedlings often have that ‘’Aril look’’. 
Strange SUMMER Bloomers 
VESPER IRIS (Iris dichotoma) * 3 for $1.00; 6 for $1.50 
For the home of this graceful novelty we chart our course to Eastern 
Siberia and Mongolia. There, in the late afternoons, at vesper time, tall 
branching sprays of flowers unfold their petals of lavender, purple or 
cream. Unlike nearly all other Iris, they bloom abundantly through the 
heat of the summer. July to September—36”’. 
BLACKBERRY-LILY (Belamcanda chinensis) * 3 for $1.00 
Now south to Central China for the last of our Oddities. And strange it 
is, for while the plant and foliage can hardly be told from the Vesper 
Iris, the flowers are like small bright orange tiger lilies, crimson-spotted, 
yet the plant belongs to the Iris family, not the Lily family. Much in 
demand, for in the fall come “blackberry’” seed-ciusters, suitable for 
winter bouquets. Hardy. July and August—30”. ; 
MAGIC CARPET COLLECTION — 2 each of Bokhara, Fragrant, 
African Perpetual, Snake’s Head, Teucros, Zebra, Paltec, Spotless, 
Sherif fa, Vesper and Blackberry-Lily, a $14.47 value for $9.95 
ADVENTURER’S ECONOMY COLLECTION—2 each of Fragrant, 
African Perpetual, Snake’s Head, Teucros, Spotless, Vesper and 
Blackberry-Lily, a $7.15 value for— $4.95 

Remember, it is the UNUSUAL that attracts attention in your garden. ee 
