BRIGHT AND SHINING STAR (P. Black ‘20)
TB Early-Midseason 32” (81cm)
This one shines brightly from across the garden with its pristine white flowers with falls narrowly stitched mid purple. Ample rufflling gives it that special flair. A strong spicy fragrance increases its star rating. Stalks have 2 branches and 7 buds.
Sdlg. Y23B: Out of the Dark X L81A, Out of the Dark sib

COUNTING STARS (T. Johnson ’20)
TB Early 38” (96.5cm)
Standards have a white ground almost completely overlaid with lavender plicata dotting and a very narrow purple wire edge. Falls are white heavily overlaid with deep purple black dotting at the hafts and forming a wide band. Nice burnt orange beards pop out of the center adding nice contrast. A very nice early variety that has wonderful stems and covers itself in bloom. Outstanding in clump!!
Sdlg TI172F MARRY THE NIGHT X TF89A:(HEAD OVER HEELS x Blyth R95-3:(ADORANOVA SIB)

HEADLINE NEWS (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Early 30” (76cm)
Wow is what I always say when I see this one bloom. The flowers are large and very dramatic. Lavender standards with a slightly darker infusion in the midrib. Falls are a very deep plush purple black with a very ruffled lavender band and then a thin deep purple wire edge. The beards are a brilliant orange. A very clean brilliant contrast. Makes startling clumps!! Highly recommended.
Sdlg TI169ZZ: sib to Higher Love X Twilight Rhapsody.

KAY (T. Johnson ’17)
MDB Midseason 8” (20cm)
As closest to black as we have seen with huge mustard yellow beards. Very startling. Named after my great Aunt Kay, whose favorite color just happens to be black. A very special Iris named after a great lady.
Sdlg TG322C: Beckoning Sib X Ping

NICKEL (P. Black '06)
IB mid 26" (66 cm)
Very unique plicata. Butter standards with wide violet plicata bands. White falls with narrow blue-grape plicata bands. Lovely lightly ruffled form. Superb branching. A MUST HAVE!
Sdlg. K311A: H242A: (Starbaby x B302B: (85-385A: (82-2D: (Ice Chalet x Dixie Pixie) x Lavender Puff) x 88-262A: (85-319B: (Gentle Air x Chubby Cheeks sib) x 86-316A: (Little Louie x 84-272B: (Cindy Mitchell x unknown))))) 2006. HM 2008, AM 2010

SPLASH OUT (P. Black '21)
TB Early-Midseason 31” (79cm)
You’ll be ready to ‘Splash Out’ for this bold beauty. Mid-light smoky mulberry standards are widely banded light tan and rimmed gilt gold. Near black lines of expansive falls are overlaid velvety darkest burgundy and decorated with ruffled rose bands. Startling large tangerine beards are flanked with butter hafts veined dark garnet. Well-branched stalks have 4 branches and 8-9 buds. May rebloom in warmer climates.
Sdlg. Y32CR, Autumn Jewel sib

TWINKLE LITTLE STAR (P. Black ‘20)
MDB Midseason-Late 7” (18cm)
It has great garden impact for such a little guy. Standards are white as are bands and darts beside white beards on dark indigo falls. Cream styles.
Sdlg. X343B, Water Goblins sib

BURSTING FLAMES (Thomas Johnson ’22)
SDB Midseason 14” (36”cm)
Sweet fragrance. Very rich and smooth black cherry bitone with the standards being just a tad bit lighter than the near black falls. The mustard yellow beards create quite a contrast. Gorgeous in clump.
Sdlg TL282A: Kay X Roaring Fire.

TARANIS (L. Miller ’22)
TB Midseason 33” (84cm)
Named after the Celtic God of thunder and storms. Standards are dusky apricot shaded dark purple at the midrib. Stormy black falls have deep wavy ruffles. Even the beards are stormy, they are dark purple, tipped old gold. 9 to 10 buds.
Sdlg 6615D: Ninja Warrior X Main Street.

SHOCKING SECRET (T. Johnson ’22)
TB Late 37” (94cm)
Sweet fragrance. Shocking Secret was selected for introduction when I first laid eyes on it. It was in flower in the middle of a 20 row seedling patch. The patch was in full flower and still Shocking Secret stood out among the sea of color, staring at me with its deep signal as if to say “pick me”. Medium orchid to lavender self with pink tones infused in the standards. Falls are the same, only with a large dark black cherry signal that surrounds the orange beards. Nicely branched and budded with good form. Yet another introduction from When Doves Cry, proving to be an excellent parent. To say it is dramatic is an understatement.
Sdlg TJ246ZZ: Medal Of Honor X When Doves Cry.

IMPRESSIVE (Paul Black '22)
IB Midseason-Late 25” (63cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance It is quite reminiscent of ‘Daughter of Stars’ but shares little in common ancestry. White veins trace through violet blue standards. Dark purple falls are brightened by white luminata patches and dart at the end of beards. Show stalks to be expected from the parentage have 2 branches plus spur and 7-9 buds. Clumps command your attention.
Sdlg. AA170A: Belle Fille X Black V385C: (First Lady of Spring x Silver Ice)

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

LATER ALLIGATOR (Paul Black '22)
TB Early-Midseason 34” (86cm)
Pronounced sweet fragrance. Be careful this intriguing character doesn’t sneak up on you. Swirling mid to light slate blue standards are flushed darker gray violet up midribs. Ruffled mustard yellow falls have paler centers and are veined darker gold. Show stalks with 3 branches and spur have 8-10 buds which is characteristic of both parents. Robust growth ensures this gator will be back year after year.
Sdlg. Y46A: Black U10, Luxuriant sib X Black W130A: (Black T19B, Lost World sib x Secret Agenda

STARRY STARRY NIGHT (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Very Late 36” (91cm)
Slight musky fragrance It is a night you’ll long remember. Classically formed, ruffled and lightly laced purple black flowers have standards with white sanded veins over their centers that show their plicata heritage. White fall hafts have closely spaced purple black lines and sanded veins transitioning to velvety purple black falls. Butterscotch beards turn to white climaxing in a white shooting star dart for a dramatic accent. It has a stunning presence even before opening. Bud reverses have chartreuse haft centers streaking into white center bands then white veins streaking into dark purple outer bands. It is an awesome look. Sturdy growth produces 4 well-spaced branches but only 7 buds. As if this wasn’t enough, it has been a mystery progenitor of many broken color plicatas. There is nothing in the parentage to suggest this trait. I’m still exploring its potential. In one cross, about a third of the seedlings looked like it, a third were standard plicata types and a third were broken color plicatas. There is much to be explored!
Sdlg. Y161A: Me and My Shadow X Black V159B, Pleasure’s All Mine sib

CHASE THE NORTH STAR (T. Johnson ’23)
TB Midseason 33” (84cm)
Light sweet fragrance. Icy blue white standards with a light blue edge. Falls are white with a deep inky blue-black band. Yellow orange beards scream out from the heart. This is the traditional emma cook pattern but with a much deeper blue band than we have seen before. Quite dramatic in person and not to be overlooked. Sdlg. TK24ZZ: Hard To Resist X Brouhaha.

SHIVERS (T. Johnson ’23) TB Midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance. Wow, just wow is what I say each time I see this one in flower. Nearest attempt yet to a black amoena that we have seen. Icy blue white standards have a gilt gold edge and the visible style crests are also etched in gold. Falls are about a dark a black purple as there is. Beards are a burnt orange. Shivers is also blessed with beautiful form, ruffles, stems and good bud count. Absolutely spectacular. Check out additional pictures including clump shots of it on the website. Sdlg. TJ303ZZ: By Starlight sib.

SPARKLE AND SHINE (Paul Black 23)
TB Midseason-Late 31” (79cm)
Slight sweet fragrance What an impressive clump this one makes in the garden. Stark white standards dance above strongly flared warmer white falls that become wide mottled and washed mid violet bands. Fiery orange beards demand you come in for a closer look. The bloom keeps on going and going with 4 branches and 10-11 buds. Sdlg. AA63A: Color Wheel X Black Y126 caramel sib: (You Belong to Me x Black Y61B, Creature of the Night sib)

COAL TAR (Keppel '22) early-mid-late 24" (61cm) A stunning blue to black self that is very floriferous.

AMETHYST STARBURST (Black ’24)
MTB Early-midseason 20” (51cm)
Slight spicy fragrance. Taking the I. variegata veined fall pattern to an extreme. Makes a startling clump. Parentage involves mostly tets., but Amethyst Starburst looks diploid. Sdlg. BB168A: Little White Tiger X Black Z159A: (Black W195I: (Black S233A: (Redrock Princess x Ah Yes) x Edinger "Mullinax Butterfly") x unknown)

SUNNY NATURE (Black ’24)
SDB Midseason-late 14” (35.5cm)
Sweet fragrance. From blue and garnet parents comes this sunny yellow creation with complementary rose washed fall spot accented by luscious melon beards. Sdlg. BB229O: Black U112B: (Sky Of Blue x Crank It Up) X Black U114B, Blazing Garnet sib