ORIGINATOR: Schreiner

INTRODUCED: 1963

CLASS: Tall Bearded

HEIGHT: 35"

BLOOM SEASON: Early

DESCRIPTION: Deep marine blue self, blue tipped beard.

PARENTAGE: ((Pierre Menard x Blue Ensign) x (F188 x Quicksilver)) X Arabi Pasha

AWARDS: HM'63

INTERESTING INFO: From the 1963 Schreiner's Iris Lover's Catalog: For years the iris which has been considered closest to cornflower blue has been Arabi Pasha, the Dykes Medal winner in England in 1953, with Blue Ensign, a previous Dykes Medal winner perhaps second. Both of these extra blue iris figure in the parentage of Catalina (along with Pierre Menard and two of our own seedlings). In Catalina we have the privilege of offering you an iris that is not only bluer than its British forebears, but much larger and taller. Catalina is a magnificent marine blue iris of unrivaled richness (very accurately depicted by our color plate), with falls four inches across, heavy substance, superb enameled finish, excellent branching, hig bud count and good height. We consider this an epochal introduction. Lots of hard work in the hybridizing realm is back of this unique advancement in iris quality. If you want to treat yourself to a BIG THRILL, get Catalina! $25.00