The Red Douglas

J. Sass, R. 1934 / I. 1937
Iris Class:
Bearded
Bearded Class:
Tall Bearded
Age:
1930-1939
Fall Color:
Red/Maroon
Standard Color:
Red/Maroon
Pattern:
Bitone
Beard Color:
Orange/Deep Yellow
Hybridizer:
Sass J
Rarity:
Available - not endangered

Full Description

TB 36″ LaM R9D

From Cooley’s Gardens catalog for 1938: “Possibly more glamour was attached to the introduction of this variety than any iris in recent years. Seen in only about a half-dozen gardens last year, it drew the attention of all present. Simply colossal in size, as smooth and heavy as a piece of the richest plush. It is a deep rosy-wine-red, solid at the haft with a brownish cast near the center, beard rich orange. We are fortunate to have a very fine lot of rhizomes.”

From National Iris Gardens catalog for 1940: Hailed as the finest red variety, it is a pure self color of violet-red displaying absolutely no veining to detract from the solid coloring.”

From Schreiner’s Iris Lover’s catalog for 1947: “A magnificent iris. A vibrant red of rich plush-like quality. Rich, rosy wine red solid to the haft. It is not the reddest iris but rather a sterling, gorgeously rich, deep dark red. Critics agree it is one of the finest iris we have.”

From Pudor’s Annual catalog for 1948: “Winner of the Dykes Medal as the best novelty of 1941. One of the best of the new reds – a real red of plush-like substance. Extra large blooms, well formed; tall, branching stems. Altogether a rare and noble Iris.”

From Marble Iris Gardens for 1952: “This is an unusually rich, velvety smooth flower of very large size and perfect form. It is a deep rosy red-wine with a brownish cast at the center and a rich orange beard. This is as fine an Iris as is grown.”

((Redwing x Cardinal) X Joycette), HM 1936, AM 1939, Dykes Medal 1941.