Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Dusky Challenger') in the Irises Database

Data specific to Irises (Edit)
Hybridizer:	Schreiner
Year Of Registration:	1986
Year Of Introduction (May Differ From Registry):	1986
Seedling Number:	1983-AA
Classification:	Tall Bearded (TB)
Registered Height:	39 inches (99 cm)
Bloom Season:	Mid Late
Flower Form:	Ruffled
Bloom Color Classification:	Purple
Flower Patterns:	Self
Bloom Color Description:	Silky rich purple
Beard Color:	Deep violet black
Foliage:	Purple Based
Awards:	Honorable Mention: 1988 Award of Merit: 1990 Dykes Memorial Medal: 1992 Franklin Cook Memorial Cup: 1986, 1991

General Plant Information (Edit)
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil pH Preferences:	Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 9b
Flowers:	Showy
Underground structures:	Rhizome
Propagation: Seeds:	Will not come true from seed
Propagation: Other methods:	Division
Ploidy:	Tetraploid
Parentage:	Parentage unknown
Child plants:	105 child plants

Common names

Iris
Tall Bearded Iris

Photo Gallery

Location: Daisydo's garden
Date: 2023-05-18
Dusky Challenger

Uploaded by DaisyDo

Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2014-05-28

Uploaded by csandt

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: Schreiners Gardens
Date: 2011-05-31

Uploaded by ARUBA1334

Location: My garden, Sweden
Date: June 2017

Uploaded by William

Uploaded by William

Location: Cottonwood, CA
Date: 2022-05-02

Uploaded by Gretchenlasater

Location: Western Kentucky
Date: Spring 2014

Uploaded by Muddymitts

Location: Daisydo's garden
Date: 2023-05-16
Dusky Challenger

Uploaded by DaisyDo

Location: Schreiner's Gardens near Salem, OR
Date: 2015-05-14

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Uploaded by txtreehugger

Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania 17565
Date: 2014-06-01

Uploaded by csandt

Uploaded by RPV

Uploaded by UndertheSun

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Uploaded by Neela

Uploaded by Jpari

Uploaded by Kazryn

Uploaded by txtreehugger

Uploaded by txtreehugger

Location: Bed B Oregon
Date: 2022-06-02
overcast

Uploaded by lharvey16

Location: My garden in southeast Nebraska
Date: 2010-05-21

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Uploaded by ARUBA1334

Location: My garden, Watkins Glen, NY
Date: 2016-06-08

Uploaded by LynNY

Uploaded by Betja

Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Date: 2016-04-27

Uploaded by Henhouse

Location: Michigan-my garden
Date: Spring 2021

Uploaded by Lbsmitty

Location: Tamberg garden, Berlin, Germany
Date: 2022-05-28

Uploaded by D3LL

Uploaded by D3LL

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: In a public garden
Date: 2013-05-04

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: my yard
Date: 04/22/19
DC is my all time favorite iris!

Uploaded by txtreehugger

Uploaded by Betja

Uploaded by Irislady

Location: Sangamon Co. Il.
Date: 2018-05-24

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by lharvey16

Location: Winterberry Iris Gardens
Date: 2012-05-11

Uploaded by critterologist

Location: California
Dusky Challenger clump (with Jurassic Park on the left).

Uploaded by gnafziger

Location: north central Texas
Date: 2004-05-10

Uploaded by needrain

Location: My garden in Bakersfield, CA
Date: 2013-05-11

Uploaded by Betja

Location: Northern Germany
Date: 2002-11-06
SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

Uploaded by Caruso

Location: My garden in southeast Nebraska
Date: 2012-05-09

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Location: My garden in southeast Nebraska
Date: 2011-05-27

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Location: Philo, California
Date: 2015-06-25

Uploaded by janwax

Location: Philo, California
Date: 2015-06-26
Blooming in late June - the 26th!

Uploaded by janwax

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-05-07
First year bloom.

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: My garden
Date: 2019-06-03
Close up

Uploaded by evelyninthegarden

Uploaded by lharvey16

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by lharvey16

Uploaded by Ivan_N_Tx

Location: lawn bed
Date: 2018-05-28
oregon

Uploaded by lharvey16

Location: Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Date: 2020-04-29
Gorgeous favorite, grew in MI and CA.

Uploaded by CA_Laurelei

Uploaded by Jpari

Uploaded by Neela

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Uploaded by Marilyn

Uploaded by lharvey16

Location: Poilly-Lez-Gien France
"Photo courtesy of Cayeux Iris. Used with permission."

Uploaded by Misawa77

Uploaded by txtreehugger

Location: My garden in southeast Nebraska
Date: 2012-05-02

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Location: Northern Germany
Date: 2005-08-22
SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA

Uploaded by Caruso

Location: Bytom/Poland/
Date: 2016-05-29

Uploaded by pasla3

Uploaded by Betja

Uploaded by avmoran

Location: Overland Park Arboretum in Overland Park, KS
Date: 2009-05-18

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Uploaded by pinkiris

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Location: My garden
Date: 2019-06-06
First year bloom.

Uploaded by evelyninthegarden

Location: York PA
Date: 05-30-2015
Susquehanna Iris Society 2015 Show

Uploaded by Misawa77

Uploaded by pinkiris

Location: My garden in Bakersfield, CA
Date: 2013-05-10

Uploaded by Betja

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: Catheys Valley CA
Photo courtesy of Superstition Iris Gardens, posted with permissi

Uploaded by Misawa77

Location: Mackinaw, IL
Date: 2011-10-15
Iris 'Dusky Challenger' rhizome, with watch to show scale.

Uploaded by BookerC1

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by pixie62560

Uploaded by evelyninthegarden

Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

Uploaded by Orsola

Photo courtesy of Blue J Iris Used with permission.

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Uploaded by SpringGreenThumb

Photo Courtesy of Te Sligte Gardens. Used with Permission

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Northern Germany
Date: 2014-05-26

Uploaded by Caruso

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by KentPfeiffer (Southeast Nebraska - Zone 5b) on Mar 22, 2012 8:11 PM concerning plant:

Justly renowned iris.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Dec 1, 2011 12:42 AM concerning plant:

This is a gorgeous flower! I only had it in bloom for the first time in 2010 after planting it the Fall of 2008. The color and height are stunning! I'm not surprised it won the Dykes Medal! Everything about this plant is wonderful! If I had to grow one Tall Bearded Iris, this would be the one! It's truly a winner in all aspects! It's been in the Top 10 of the Iris Society Poll for years and for good reason!

I got rid of all my Irises in the Fall of 2010, but I've been tempted to grow this one again! It's so beautiful! I just might have to make a spot to grow 'Dusky Challenger' again!

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
Calif_Sue	On May 9, 2018	Bloomed
Calif_Sue	On August 1, 2013	Obtained plant
aspenhill	On July 27, 2012	Obtained plant Exline - qty 1
dragonfetti	On April 1, 2015	Plant emerged
dragonfetti	On March 12, 2015	Miscellaneous Event Nothing yet...
dragonfetti	On January 14, 2015	Seeds sown Planted in glass tulip garden.
dragonfetti	On January 12, 2015	Obtained plant From WM; $2.98.
LakeCatherine	On April 18, 2017	Bloomed Bought at Lowe's
csandt	On July 18, 2018	Obtained plant
csandt	On May 22, 2017	Obtained plant
RachaelHunter	On September 18, 2021	Obtained plant
Hajue	On July 8, 2022	Obtained plant Von Cayeux

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Dusky Challenger by IrisLilli	Feb 8, 2018 6:23 AM	0

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Irises Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Dusky Challenger')

Irises

Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Dusky Challenger')