CROCODILE SMILE (Paul Black '22)
TB Late-Very Late 35” (89cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance If I could have only one of my plicatas to breed with, it would be this one. Its genetic diversity, including several instances of ‘Dolce’ plus SDBs, IBs, tet MTBs, BBs and TBs, has given rise to unique colors and patterns in addition to solid growth. White ground standards are washed pale mustard becoming darker toward edges then embellished with darker mustard fine veining overall and white edges. Yellow styles are held within strongly held standards. Expansive white ground falls are widely plicata banded dark olive gold with more olive random dotting and line down centers, over centers and haft. Unique olive gold beards complete this unusual creature. Three branches have 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. Y55A: Black U14A, Drag Race pod parent X Black W191A, Black Label pollen parent

SURE TO TURN HEADS (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm)
Sweet fragrance. Put this iris at the top of your list. Its maiden bloom said, “I’m a star,” and so it is. It easily makes my top ten list. Tight compact form and heavy substance ensure it won’t fall apart in adverse weather. Exuberantly ruffled standards contrast with tightly pie crust ruffled fall edges so as to adorn but not obscure the stunning plicata patterning. Sturdy show stalks have 4 branches with 11-14 buds. Growth is robust and clean. Clumps are filled with stalks and bloom. You’re sure to turn your head as you walk by. Sdlg. BB106B: Crocodile Smile X Black Z100D, Background Noise sib

SPECIAL AGENT MAN (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. Another ‘Crocodile Smile’ child. It has an interesting combination of cool colored standards and warm falls. Falls show a slightly different expression of the plicata pattern. Also notice the interesting dotted plicata pattern on the back of the falls, characteristic of many ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. Near solid gray plum standards sit atop butter yellow ground falls with a nearly solid overlay of dark plum and marigold beards. Sdlg. BB108A: Black Y56B: (Hot Off The Press x All Too Exciting) X Crocodile Smile

BEAUTIFUL ESSENCE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. Yes, another ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring. To say its plicata markings are subtle is an understatement. Some might question it being a plicata, but both parents are plicatas. It isn’t a glaciata because there are some subtle anthocyanin markings. A beautifully elegant flower, with all good garden traits, it should be an excellent parent. Standards are warm white with a pale stitched edge. Falls are warm white with minimum buff plicata hafts and edge. Sdlg. BB105D: Crocodile Smile X Z62C: (All Too Exciting x Black U53X, Rise Like A Phoenix sib)

LEMON PEEL (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 34” (86.5cm)
Musky fragrance. Another of the ‘Crocodile Smile’ offspring, with bright yellow ground falls. Plicata markings are variable from flower to flower, which indicates ‘Crocodile Smile’ or its offspring should be good to pair with broken color plicatas. A waxy texture over the falls is fairly common. Notice the vivid yellow styles. Fun and unique. Sdlg. BB104L: Crocodile Smile X Black Y135A: (All Too Exciting x Fancy Ideas)

WRITING ON THE WALL (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm)
Musky fragrance. ‘Crocodile Smile’ has been a supreme parent for creating unusual and different plicatas. A good proportion of seedlings have lovely branching and buds. Like ironing a small checked shirt, the patterning of Writing On The Wall makes it difficult to focus on any one part. It is unusual. Sdlg. BB104J: Crocodile Smile X Black Y135A: (All Too Exciting x Fancy Ideas)

MEGASTAR (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 35” (89cm) No fragrance.
This was my favorite seedling out of all of the BB year seedlings. I returned repeatedly to have another look. There is such an overwhelming amount of color and patterning that one viewing isn’t enough to take it in. It is another Crocodile Smile child, which shows its importance as a parent. Warm white standards have a wide light violet plicata outer band and a wide light khaki tan sanded and lined plicata band. Style arms are contrasting dark gold. White falls have wide dark violet to dark plum lined and sanded plicata bands. Rich brown beards are the perfect accent. Three branches produce 8-9 buds.
Sdlg. BB105P: Crocodile Smile X Z62C: (All Too Exciting x U53X, Rise Like A Phoenix sib)

JUST FOR JACKIE (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Jackie is one of my best friends. She has always been a big help by leaving pink post-it notes on seedlings she thinks I should keep. We’ve had many good laughs together. She also insists on helping me plant my iris seeds each fall. Of course I wouldn’t hurt her feelings by saying no. She makes it all fun. She likes brown irises, so for her here is a white and dark red-brown plicata. Note the pronounced lines in the falls. Strong stalks have three branches and 8-9 buds. This is one of many exceptional seedlings coming from Crocodile Smile.
Sdlg. BB106C: Crocodile Smile X Z100D, Background Noise sib

STRIPES ARE IN (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 32” (81.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Here is another of the fantastic Crocodile Smile offspring with unique lined falls in various colors that I’ve been anxious to introduce. White standards have wide almost solid dark purple plicata bands and heavily stitched and sanded centers. White falls have intermittent lines over their centers and a solid center stripe. The number and length of lines is variable. I can’t wait to see more of its kids. Three branches and 8-9 buds is typical.
Sdlg. BB106N: Crocodile Smile X Z100D, Background Noise sib

PLICATA PORTRAIT (P. Black '25)
TB Early-midseason 34” (86.5cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
She is all dressed up for her picture perfect moment. White ground standards have wide solid dark maroon bands and heavy overall plicata sanded centers. Interiors of the standards have white ground with plicata marks similar to falls. Broad white falls have mid red-violet sanding within wide dark maroon plicata bands. Widely spaced dark maroon lines traverse the centers. Three branches have 8-9 buds. Strong growth.
Sdlg. BB106O: Crocodile Smile X Z100D, Background Noise sib