d RARITIES 
gith for YOUR Iris Wonderland 
How true 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, | know what you would be looking for. But just in case your journey is delayed, I have 
gathered in for you, from the four corners of the earth, these Iris rarities you would see if you were to travel far and wide, | present for 
your enjoyment lightning-quick magic carpet excursions to remote places, and the Iris peculiar to them. These include various floral 
treasures not elsewhere available in America. They 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 bloom- 
ing when flowers are scarce,or their strange appearance.|n short,they are UNUSUAL. Nearly every year there will be new kinds for you. 
TRIS 
Kio rts of 
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Iris from the 
Dependable 
VESPER IRIS (DICHOTOMA) 2 for $1.35 
Our first flight by magic carpet is to Eastern Siberia and Mongolia for the home of this graceful Iris. There in late 
afternoon, at vesper time, tall branching sprays of these flowers unfold their prettily marked lilac petals. This and 
the Leopard Flower stand alone as the only Iris that bloom regularly and abundantly in the heat of the summer, 
from July to September. Probably produces more flowers per stem than any other Iris. Fascinates youngsters 
from seven to seventy, for it is a plant with visible motion—something usually attributed only to members of the 
animal kingdom. Believe it or not, at the vesper hour the flowers usually “‘pop open all at once, nothing first, just 
like a bubble when it bursts.”’ You will have unbelieving onlookers congregating at about 3 P.M. to see this natural 
phenomenon with their own eyes. 26”. 
SEEDS of Vesper Iris. Easy, quick to grow from seed. Usually blooms the first summer. Enough to grow fifty or more 
plants for only $1.00; 3 packets for $2.50. 
LEOPARD FLOWER or BLACKBERRY-LILY (BELAMCANDA CHINENSIS) 2 for $1.45 
Next we head south to China and Japan for this strange summer bloomer. A member of the Iris family that is fine 
for a companion planting with the Vesper Iris. Flowers, bright orange, crimson spotted, followed by glossy “black- 
berry” seed-clusters, admirably fitted for winter bouquets. 28”. 
Novel —(Evansia) 
BLOOMING TIMES: February to May. SHIPPING and PLANTING TIMES: Summer and fall. 
CULTURE and HARDINESS (in brief): Prefer rather moist, slightly acid soil, and light to moderate shade, with ground cover of 
rotted oak leaves. Tectorum and Paltec also do well in sun and are quite hardy, needing only moderate protection in coldest areas. 
Japonica and Nada grow outdoors in most of California and Oregon, but in colder climates best grown in winter in pots, greenhouses 
or conservatories. 
FLOWER: Each fall bears a novel crest instead of a beard. 
FRINGED IRIS (Iris Japonica) + $1.00 
Our next flight by magic carpet is across the Pacific to the mountains of Japan and rolling 
THURLOW WEED—Oddity in full bloom—$4.00 
—(Culture page 20) 
Curious 
THURLOW WEED (Weed '43) kx $4.00 
hills near Ichang in Central China. There dwells the daintiest and most fairy-like of all 
lris—a fitting inhabitant of those countries for centuries associated with charm and grace. 
Flowers in airy sprays above broad glossy, evergreen foliage. VE-24”. 
NADA (Iris Japonica x I. Wattii) + HM ’49 $1.25 
This best known of crested Iris hybrids was derived from two of the Orient’s loveliest 
Iris—Japonica and Wattii, both of which remind one of frilly orchids. The hybrid, NADA 
(pronounced Ney-da) is a remarkable achievement, as it has 3 foot branched and re- 
branched stems carrying over 200 fringed flowers as delightful as those of Japonica. Fine 
for cutting and flower arrangements. VE-36”. 
TECTORUM x $1.00 
In Japan we find Tectorum, the famous roof-Iris, growing on the thatched roofs of the 
houses. Dykes considers this the best garden plant in the Evansia Section. Its broad 
leaves are strongly ribbed and most attractive. Flowers usually a deep lilac blue, quite 
flat as standards extend out nearly horizontally. The falls are mottled and have a jagged 
white crest. 15”. 
PALTEC (Evansia-Bearded Hybrid) 75¢; 3 for $2.10 
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”. 
The oddest and strangest Iris in my entire garden. Instead of the usual 3 standards and 
3 falls, which characterize practically all Iris, this has 6 nearly identical petals that are 
strongly curved and arched in open cup-like fashion. The form of the flower is more like 
a pitcher plant or flycatcher, or even a golden tulip, than an Iris. The 3 petals correspond- 
ing to falls sometimes have slight vestiges of beards down inside, but all 6 petals are quite 
beardless from external appearance. So this is, essentially, a “Bearded” Iris without a 
beard —and without petals that act as falls. There are no stamens, but stigmas are normal, 
SO crossing would seem possible. A creamy white, heavily flushed and veined in yellow. 
EM-38”. 
KALEIDOSCOPE (Katkamier '49) One for Ripley. $1.00 
Yes, a believe-it-or-not Iris in a realistic kaleidoscope pattern. Conceive, if you can, falls 
in ivory white, boldly and erratically marked with extremely variable veins and blotches 
of dark maroon, all the sharp defined edges contrasting strikingly with the ground color. 
Standards, light yellow. A strange freak of nature like this is genetically known as a 
chimera. This variety is a delicate and graceful Table Iris on a slender stem, and it will 
make the most striking bouquets imaginable. EM-25”. 
RHYTHM -— The first flat bearded Iris with 6 bearded falls, page 3. $10.00 
Rare IRIS 
CULTURE and HARDINESS (in brief): Store in Vermiculite, or better in dry sand, in cool place until 
Oct. Use bonemeal and lime in soil. Prepare sunny raised beds or ridges for drainage. Cover 2” to 3” 
deep. In cold areas mulch with 2” to 3” of straw over winter. Many kinds fully hardy. Leave in ground 
over summer if bed is kept dry. If not, dig after foliage dies down and store as above. Also often grown 
in well-drained pots. 
SHIPPING and PLANTING TIMES: Shipped Sept. to Nov.; plant in Oct. if possible. 
GRANTDUFFI » First American offering! $2.00; 3 for $5.00 
Strange indeed. A beardless Iris that is bulbous and that grows under conditions normally ac- 
corded Aril Iris. Bulbs are large and are shipped dry in late summer or fall. First found on the 
plains of Esdraelon in Palestine. Flowers yellow, or greenish yellow, edged with dots of dark purple 
or black. A curious and interesting species for the experimenter. 
SNAKE’S HEAD IRIS xxx 12 for $1.75; 24 for $3.25 
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 bou- 
quets; hence grown by florists for their most exclusive corsages. Why not grow your own? Plant 
nearly vertically with the large end down, covering 2 inches. EE-8”. (Hermodactylus tuberosa) 
CUSTOMER'S DELIGHT: ‘'The Snake’s Head Iris are in bloom and what a vision. They 
are just beautiful and I am so thrilled with them that I wish to order 24 for this year. Wore the Iris 
yesterday at work and created quite a sensation.’”’ D, R. D., Menlo Park, Calif. 
"'l ordered Snake’s Head Iris from you and they were very pretty and so different in color.” 
Mrs. E. S., Bakersfield, Calif. 
FRAGRANT 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 out of doors with 
reasonable protection. EE-6”. 
SNAKE’S HEAD IRIS—Fascinating— 
| BULBOUS COLLECTION —9 Snake’s Head plus 9 Fragrant Iris for $2.50 
CRESTED COLLECTION —Fringed, Tectorum and Paltec, for $2.55 
MAGIC GARPET COLLECTION —Both of the above collections, 5 kinds, for 
$4.95 
Feature Oddity for 1955: The sensational double Iris, DOUBLE EAGLE. : 
