■(TB) 'Inca Chief'

1952, Mitsch

'Inca Chief' (Grant Mitsch, R. 1952). TB, 32" (81 cm), Midseason bloom. Color Class-Y1D, Mustard-tan self of vibrant tone. 'Mexico' x 'Tobacco Road'. Schreiner 1952. Honorable Mention 1952, Judge's Joice 1953; Award of Merit 1954.

From the 2022 Rebloom Checklist: Rebloom reported in: unrecorded, known carrier. USDA Zones

See below:

• * References

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References:

From Schreiner’s Iris catalog, 1952: INCA CHIEF (Mitsch 1952) ML. 35". It is not often that a celebrated cross is repeated by a second hybridizer and a seedling raised that excels the earlier progeny of the cross. But that is just what has happened in this case. A providential juxtaposition of the genes from the varieties Mexico and Tobacco Road has produced an Iris both larger and more vivid than Good News yet with the softer tonal qualities of Cascade Splendor. In size Inca Chief is spectacular! It is one of the largest Iris in our fields. In color it is really vibrant--a brilliant, lustrous, burnished golden bronze, evenly colored throughout. The perfect proportion of the bloom, the gentle ruffling, the regal carriage, the immense size and magnificent coloring make this easilv one of the outstanding Iris of the year. Pictured on page 8. $20.00.
"Inca Chief (Mitsch '52)-Very large flowers of burnished golden bronze, slight ruffling, nicely branched, but stalk a bit short for the size of the blooms. As a rule our sun fades this color very badly, but this iris does not fade." “Region 15, Varietal Comments,” Advertisement. The Bulletin of the American Iris Society, No. 134 (July 1954): 72.
RUSSET WINGS, PRETTY QUADROON (which I preferred to Dykes Medal winner, ARGUS PHEASANT and other brown-toned iris soon made their appearance, bringing a spicy richness to the iris planting. But, it was the introduction of INCA CHIEF, by Grant Mitsch in 1952, that heralded a new era in the development of the browns. INCA CHIEF-vibrant and lustrous, bright as a new penny-introduced running and great substance into this field. With large, beautifully formed blossoms, its one fault was proportionate height and branching; a trait that can be bred out by careful selection of prospective mates, as witness, OLYMPIC TORCH, introduced by the Schreiners in 1958 and bloomed in spectacular splendor at the New York Convention. Mrs. J. R. Hamblen, "Drama of Progress", A.I.S. Bulletin 161 (April 1961): 10-11.
Historic Iris Preservation Society gallery link.

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Culture

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-- BobPries - 2011-03-07