HYB.Breeding for Older Form and the Market

Greetings,

I do not think that modern irises bred for antique form will be widely
received as a viable alternative or attractive alternate possibility by many
interested in older homes, antiques, and historic garden restoration or
heritage gardening. Most people committed in this direction will be seeking
authenticity, not just the appearance of authenticity, and many resources
exist to help them achieve this. I doubt issues of delicacy of bloom and
fleeting bloom period will impact their preferences. Many superior historic
cultivars are extant and accessible. It may be necessary to compromise and
settle for a reproduction Philadelphia highboy, since there are a finite
number of them and the prices are high, but good, stong growing authentic
irises for gardens and plantings of all periods are available and affordable. 

People who have modern houses with period details may find modern cultivars
evoking historic types more attractive. This has been the general pattern of
appeal of the Austin modern roses in older form, many of which, I might add,
are not superior plants outside of their country of origin. 

I grow and appreciate irises of all types and of all periods and I salute the
idea that we should embrace a wider variety of forms of bearded cultivars,
especially those achieving the regal stature and elegance of the mighty
classic irises.  But I doubt much market will be found for anything which
leaves the slightest impression of being spurious or bogus. To attract me and
earn in a place in my small garden any iris developed along these lines would
need to be a superb plant horticulturally, and one whose aesthetic and formal
integrity is complete and persuasive on terms greater than than the merely
nostalgic.

Anner Whitehead
Commercial Source Chairman
Historic Iris Preservation Society, AIS
Preserving irises, iris documents and iris artifacts for future needs."
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