■(IB) 'Zua'

'Zua' Reference Files

1914, Crawford

'Zua' (Mrs. William Crawford, 1914) IB. Early bloom. Color Class-W1. Blue-toned white self. Sport of the white I. florentina .

See below:

• * References

----

References:

From Wing Seed catalog, 1919: ZUA — New. Standards and falls delicate lavender, crumpled and ruffled like fine crepe. Flowers large and fragrant. Very unique. Stocks very limited. Eighteen inches. $2.00.
From Bonnewitz catalog, 1927: ZUA (Crawford). A light colored Iris whose standards and falls are more like silk crepe than any other variety we know. The standards are white with a delicate lilac tint and the falls have a slightly deeper lilac tint with olive-cream markings at the base. Large size bloom for the 18 inch bloom stalk which carries it. $0.75.
Has petals with a crinkly, crêpe-paper-like texture, representing an unusual class of Novelty Iris. A blue sport called 'Blue Zua' or 'Elizabeth Huntington' shares the same texture. Note that the cultivar 'Zua' could in theory sport back to the non-creped form of Iris florentina. This may account for the two cultivars being confused in commerce.
From Rainbow Hybridizing Gardens catalog 1963: ZUA VE-14". Original crepe-paper Iris, petals more crinkled & creped than in any other. An early-blooming Intermediate Iris that takes everyone's fancy. A most unusual & interesting frosty-white, flushed pale blue. Sport of Florentina. Regularly 85c; on $10 order 6c5; on $25 order 55c.
Galyon, F. (1952). “Dark horses” of irisdom. Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 126, 19-20. "In recent numbers of the Bulletin, there have been inquiries regarding the iris Zua. Although it has been about four years since I have seen this variety in bloom, I would nevertheless like to call your attention to it. Mrs. Black (on page 106, Bulletin, October 1951) describes Zua more adequately than I could. In part she says, “The texture of the petals amazed me—the entire surface of the falls was covered with tiny upstanding horns, growing very crinkled and ruffled towards the edge, even back of the falls or underside was horned and peaked. Standards are horned in the same manner, growing so crinkled and ruffled toward the top it is literally laced with holes and feathers off at the top edges in little tendrils . . . color white with a faint blue shading. Supposedly Zua is a sport of Florentina. After more than 35 years of existence the variety Zua remains a most distinctive bearded iris.” Referred to letter from Mrs. Black in 1951 AISBulletin states "CAN YOU HELP? This past spring, I saw an iris in bloom so unlike anything that I have seen or heard about in my 15 years of growing them, that I wonder if you can identify it for me, as I would greatly like to have it. The plant is low growing, under 30", but not a dwarf. It is typical Pogoniris Section—narrow beard on falls only, yellow and whitish at the base. Some veining at the haft, but not a great deal. Extra long perianth, at least 2", and small ovary. But the texture of the petals amazed me—the entire surface of the falls was covered with tiny upstanding “horns,” growing very crinkled and ruffled towards the edge, even back of the falls or underside was horned and peaked. Standards are horned in the same manner, growing so crinkled and ruffled toward the top it is literally laced with holes and feathers off at the top edges in little tendrils. The one I saw had four blossoms on a stem, nicely placed, and 1 thought them of good size, considering the height of the plant; color white with a faint blue shading. The foliage also was different, leaves had “bumps” running the length, somewhat like the horned affect of the petals. If you can identify this iris, and if you know a source of supply I would be so happy to hear from you.—H. F. Black, N.Y."

---

Culture

Quick Summary of Cultural Directions

-- BobPries - 2011-03-07

Please do not enter images that are not your own without owners' permission, this is against Wiki policy

"Although the Encyclopedia is free to all, it is supported by Emembership in AIS, If you would like to help sustain this reference, for $15 you can become an Emember, click here."

Interested in Intermediate Beardeds? Please visit the: Median Iris Society website.

---

---

-- LaurieFrazer - 2010-01-11