Per an email from Mike Sutton, in response to my query as to (unexpected) white on the falls:
"Yes, it is 'Doubleday'...fall rebloom can vary a little from spring bloom. 'Doubleday' actually had white showing in the falls when we grew it in CA, especially on rebloom flowers."
(Re)blooming in early December 2022 in Saratoga CA (zone 9), with noticeable white on the falls.
My personal hunch is that this is actually a plicata (and possibly a luminata-plicata), but crosses with other members of the plicata group are required to confirm this.
Notes on Faithful and True in my experience:
~Very vigorous, 15 rhizomes out of one initial start in 2018.
~8-10 buds on a rebloom stalk averaged.
~Zone 7a dependable rebloom, four reblooms as of 2022.
~Has NOT spring bloomed for me.
~Light scent
~Strong and sturdy rebloom stalks
Highly recommend this iris for its reliable rebloom and vigorous growth. To boot, a very pretty sight.
I have found 'Saffron Drift' to be a strong grower, although intriguingly it seems that its offspring can be more vigorous than it!
I have used it in a couple of crosses as a pod parent, as unfortunately it never produces pollen for me (a trait that seems to be consistently inherited by its progeny as well). The other trait I have observed appear in most of its offspring is strong veining on the hafts/shoulders.
In my opinion, 'Frostfall' is probably best suited to being a cut flower. It has a high bud count but very short branches, so all the blooms are held close to the stem (somewhat reminiscent of gladioli). The bloom stem is quite sturdy as well and is more likely to blow over in wild weather than to break. The flower form is pleasing and resistant to collapse under light to moderate rainfall.
According to Iris hybridiser Chuck Chapman, 'Ring Around Rosie' is a complicated mix of genes but particularly:
- a recessive ground halo (carotene pigment pattern) gene (distinct to the plicata and anthocyanin control genes)
- a luminata-plicata pattern (combination of pl, lu and gl alleles)
Although this is classified as an Intermediate, it is marketed in Australia mostly as a Standard Dwarf and is comparable to other SDBs in my garden. I can only assume that it requires certain conditions to reach its registered height.
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