I'M NOT STABLE (Black ‘20)
TB Early-Midseason 32” (81cm)
It’s much more fun to be a little wild and crazy and a bit mixed up. This broken color type will liven up your garden. Pale buff pink standards are randomly splashed mid lilac. Mid peach style crests are streaked lilac. Mid buff peach falls are randomly streaked from dark purple to light red purple. Hafts can be mid pink to butter. Each flower is different. Strong growth provides stalks with 2-3 branches and 7-9 buds. If you check out the second photo the color is not quite right but it shows the form so much better.
Sdlg. Y113A: V100C, I Broke It sib X W43A: (R100C: (Circle of Light x Ballet Performance) x Big Break)

SEEK THE UNIQUE (P. Black ‘20)
TB Early-Late 34” (86cm)
You’ve found unique with this superb, classically formed broken color variety. White blossoms have standards randomly splashed light orchid and falls randomly streaked and splashed dark to mid orchid. Show stalks have 3 branches and 7-8 buds. Vigorous and easy grower from this genetic broken color. Bred to another genetic broken color, it gives a very high percentage of broken color seedlings.
Sdlg. Y115C, Breaking Free sib

UNTAMED GLORY (T. Johnson ’21)
TB Mid 28” (71cm)
Untamed Glory is a novelty iris. It very consistently has six falls and no standards, but instead of going completely flat they hold in the shape of a magnolia bloom. It is very reminiscent in form of a very old cultivar by Opal Brown called Pink Magnolia. A clump of Untamed Glory will completely cover itself with these large ruffled salmon pink flowers with irregular white broken color. Definitely an iris for those who love the novelties.
Sdlg TI225YY: Blyth W75, pollen parent of Beachy Queen, X Blyth W68-4: (Heart of Dreams sib x Stay Stylish pollen parent) X Chasing Destiny

YOU'RE A MESS (P. Black ‘20)
TB Early-Midseason 31” (79cm)
Here’s another of my genetic broken color types with strong growth and well- branched and budded stalks. Mid mulberry standards have limited random palest violet splashes. Falls have random streaks and splashes of mid mulberry and palest violet. Hafts are streaked plum and tan. Flowers are nicely ruffled and have a sweet fragrance. Show stalks have 2-3 branches and 7-9 buds. A more subtle broken color.
Sdlg. Y113B: I’m Not Stable sib

ZIP ZING ZOWIE (P. Black '21)
TB Early-Midseason 35” (89cm)
Your head spins round with the whirlwind of colors of this broken color type. White standards are randomly splashed light lilac and tan. Fall centers are white blended outward to mid yellow and narrowly edged white and then randomly streaked, splashed, veined and mottled varying shades of vibrant red plum. You won’t miss seeing these wildly colorful flowers. Three well-spaced branches produce 7-8 buds.
Sdlg. Y115A: I Broke It X V24C: (Variegated Wonder x Die Laughing).

ESSENCE OF BEAUTY (Paul Black '22)
TB Early-Midseason 33” (84cm)
No fragrance. Ooh la la, all those undulating ruffles and vivid apricot, orange and pink blending decorated with even darker bold orange beards. All this lusciousness is carried on strong stalks having 3 branches and 8-9 buds. For those breeding broken color sorts, this one has B/Cs on both sides of the parentage.
Sdlg. X113B: Big Break X Black U22B: ((Magical Glow x Impulsive) x Black R170C, Simply Coral sib)

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

STREAK ATTACK (P. Black 22)
TB Early-Midseason 30” (76cm)
Blue-green and white variegated foliage in itself is relatively rare but then add purple base foliage and it becomes something quite exceptional. It is also one of the more stable variegated foliage types. Flower color is variable ranging from brownish plum to red violet with some flowers having large broken color segments of both. Flowers on some stalks are quite uniform for color while others are more varied. White hafts are veined and mottled auburn. Variegated stalks have 3 branches and 7-9 buds.
Sdlg. X95B: Variegated Wonder X Black N128A: (Cool Confidence x J22A: *variegated foliage sport* (Crazy for You x Distant Roads))

TOO MIXED UP (P. Black '22)
TB Midseason-Late 30” (76cm)
Pronounced spicy fragrance. If broken colored sorts are your proclivity, ‘Too Mixed Up’ should be on your must have list. Flowers are the ultimate in ruffled form but buds are bit lacking at 6-7. Standards are silvery white with random dashes, segments and slashes of violet to red violet. Falls are the same except rosy peach hafts. Two colored beards have tangerine throats ending in light lavender. Vigorous growth.
Sdlg. X115B: Big Break X Break In

MAKE UP YOUR MIND (Black ’24)
TB Early-midseason 33” (84cm)
Sweet fragrance. This is one of the first broken color plicatas. Subsequent generations indicate it is an inheritable trait, so let the breeding begin. Nothing in the parentage indicates the possibility of broken color. About 1/3 of the seedlings from this cross were plicatas, about 1/3 were selfs, and about 1/3 were broken color plicatas. Well-branched stalks have 2 branches and a spur producing 7-9 blooms. Vigorous growth provides quick clumps. Intriguing to see each flower marked differently. Sdlg. AA84T: Come And Dance X Starry Starry Night

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)

HODGEPODGE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm)
Sweet fragrance. A very pleasing pastel broken color with strong growth and 8-9 buds. Standards are mid lilac in the center with irregular streaks of peach and a cream band. Falls have a pale violet center blending into a wide pale pink band. Hafts are light peach, veined white and there is irregular light to dark random streaks of violet overall. Ruffled! Sdlg. AA11M: Big Break X You’re A Mess

INDISCRIMINATE (Black ’24)
TB Midseason 35” (89cm)
Sweet fragrance. A broken color plicata, coming from ‘Me And My Shadow’. No two flowers alike, as the degree of stippling and dotting in ratio to broken color changes from bloom to bloom. Taller show stalks have 3 branches and sometimes a spur with 9-11 buds. Plants are strong with vigorous growth and increase. An exciting and fun pattern. Sdlg. AA89U: Me And My Shadow X Black Y54B, Drag Race sib

PLAY WITH ZEBRAS (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 34” (86.5cm) Pronounced musky fragrance.
Talk about a zebra of a different stripe. This is one of the few broken color plicatas, and one with sterling plant habits and superbly formed flowers. White standards have a wide dark purple plicata band and closely spaced dotting over the center. Wide and ruffled falls are white with dark purple broken color segments, streaks, dotting, and sanding. Show stalks have three branches and 7-8 buds. I’m working on zebras in other colors now. What a fun project this is!
Sdlg. AA84N: Come And Dance X Starry Starry Night

PEACH BERRY JUMBLE (P. Black '25)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm) No fragrance.
The time of broken colored irises with poor form, stalks, buds, and growth is past. Now is the time to put this colorful beauty in your garden. Standards have mid to dark mulberry segments and streaks, and mid to light peach segments and streaks. Falls have a mid peach ground, white around the beards, and mid to dark mulberry segments, streaks, sanding, and dotting. WOW! What a wild and crazy flower. Vigorous growth produces show stalks with three branches and 8-9 buds.
Sdlg. BB117N: Y87A: (V24C, Cockeyed Optimist sib x W144C: (T46C: (Claim To Fame x Advantage) x T52CR: (N134AAR: (Island Coral x K113A: (Throb x I4B: (Blazing Sunrise x C17D, Vibrant sib))) x Advantage))) X Y115B, Breaking Free sib

DOUBLE DEALING (P. Black '25)
TB Early-midseason 30” (76cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Breeding for broken color irises is difficult, and even more so for variegated foliage. The presence of both in the same iris is still a rare achievement. Double Dealing meets the challenge. Variegated foliage has segments that are blue-green, grass green and white. Broken color flowers have standards of light tan-yellow with mid rosy mauve broken color segments. Falls are mid tan-gold with mid maroon sanding and dark maroon broken color segments, streaks, and splashes. Stalks have 2 branches plus spur and 8 buds.
Sdlg. BB117A: Y87A: (V24C, Cockeyed Optimist sib x W144C: (T46C: (Claim To Fame x Advantage) x T52CR: (N134AAR: (Island Coral x K113A: (Throb x I4B: (Blazing Sunrise x C17D, Vibrant sib))) x Advantage))) X Y115B, Breaking Free sib

FUTURE DREAMS (Thomas Johnson ’26)
TB Early-midseason 37” (94cm) Sweet fragrance.
For many years I have worked with plicatas that are the result of outcrosses to bicolors, to increase vigor and bring more diversity in color and pattern. Future Dreams is so named because of the wide-ranging breeding potential in this pattern. Standards are deep lavender purple with darker maroon veining. Falls are white with a deep maroon haft and band. If that weren’t enough, upon closer inspection, you will notice broken color within the band. A totally unique and distinctive color and pattern variation in plicatas. Flowers are well-formed, and carried on strong show stems with lots of buds. Future Dreams has a good pedigree, and once again shows the importance of ‘Tenacity’ as a parent, both for quality and diversity. Sdlg. TO236M: Running In Circles sibling X Tenacity

ALL OVER THE PLACE (Paul Black 26)
TB Early-midseason 33” (84cm) Slight spicy fragrance.
A striking garden standout, this broken color iris showcases an artful blend of light to mid violet and creamy white, brushed and splashed together so no two blooms are alike. Heavily ruffled standards rise above broad, arched falls capped with white to marigold beards. Strong upright stems have 3 well-spaced branches plus spur and 8-9 buds. Pairs beautifully with pastels or more bold colors. Sdlg. BB127B: You're A Mess X Black Y111C: (Black V100A, I Broke It sibling x Black W143B, Wild Streak sibling)

SCATTERSHOT DOTS (Paul Black 26)
TB Midseason-late 30” (76cm) Pronounced sweet fragrance.
Here’s another in the limited realm of the strange broken color plicatas. Each flower is patterned differently. Typically marked standards have a light buttercream ground with a dark charcoal-purple wide rib, heavily plicata-sanded center, and wide band. White falls have light yellow variably-sized hafts, irregular broken color segments of wine to purple dotting and sanding, and a narrow dark wine plicata band. Sdlg. EE25A: Black AA84W, Make Up Your Mind X Wild About You

STRANGE BEAST (Paul Black 26)
TB Midseason-late 33” (84cm) Slight sweet fragrance.
Such a mix-up of color and pattern! No two flowers of this broken color sort are the same. Superbly formed flowers have light gold and light mauve broken color segments. More dramatically formed falls are a broken color medley of mid to dark gold and mid to dark burgundy, with a white dart at the end of light marigold beards. Don’t be surprised if you encounter an occasional variegated foliage plant. It intermittently decides to give one. It definitely does not have stable variegated foliage. Strong stalks normally have 2 branches and 7 buds. Sdlg. EE69F: Black Y87A: (Black V24C, Cockeyed Optimist sibling x Black W144C: (Black T46C: (Claim To Fame x Advantage) x Black T52CR: (Black N134AAR: (Island Coral x Black K113A: (Throb x Black I4A: (Blazing Sunrise x Black C17D, Vibrant sibling))) x Advantage))) X Hodgepodge