Reblooming Iris
Common Name: Metro Blue
Classification: Tall Bearded
Height: 34"
Exposure: Full Sun
Plant Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
Bloom Time: Early-Mid Season
Originator: Mike Lockatell, 2015
Price: Six inch pot - $20.00
Description:
Upon seeing Daughter of Stars (D. Spoon, 2001) at Winterberry Garden during an AIS Region 4 Meeting, my mentor and friend, the late Dr. Lloyd Zurbrigg saw the immense breeding potential in the purple luminata plicata. “We should try crossing it to my Clarence (Zurbrigg, 1991) seedlings.” My chance to act on Dr. Zurbrigg’s suggestion came in the spring following his January 2005 passing.
I was successful in using Daughter of Stars as a pollen parent with Lloyd’s last tall bearded rebloom release , Gate of Heaven (Zurbrigg, 2004) or (Clarence X St. Petersburg). It would take a few years to gauge success or failure.
Metro Blue saw maiden bloom in spring 2009 and rebloom materialized in the fall. A fragrant Moorish blue self, this promising seedling was sent to Riverside, California for the 2012 American Iris Society National Convention. Reblooming Iris Recorder Editor Carole Buccheim had the master planting at her Mystic Lake Garden. Carole made the following report in the Recorder’s Spring 2012 issue. “Seedling star performers in the Guest Iris Master Planting (Zone 9) for rebloom include #05-06-9BB (B. Tyson), 27-2000-1TB (A. & D. Cadd), Metro Blue (M. Lockatell), #E90-21-B TB (J. Ennenga) and # ST07-240 (A. Stanton).”
After a positive experience growing in California,Metro Blue was sent to Indiana & Oregon for further rebloom testing. Registered in 2013, results mentioned in the Rebloom Recorder’s Spring 2014 edition were encouraging. Mary Lou Swann-Young RIS Midwestern Director commented, “Mike Lockatell’s BB Double Dare qualified for Zone 5 rebloomer status at its first opportunity as a guest iris for the 2014 Region 6 Spring Convention in Northeastern Indiana. Metro Blue and Lockatell Sdlg. #20734 did as well.
For any additional information, inquiries are welcome at 804-330-2916 orCMarti8855@verizon.net.