1938, Kleinsorge

'Red Cross' (Rudolph Kleinsorge, R. 1938). Standards rose-red; falls same striped white. ((('Conquistador' x 'Cardinal')) x 'Carfax')) x 'Mary Geddes'))). Kleinsorge, Cooley 1938.

From Cooley's Gardens catalog for 1938: "Rather a bizarre contrast of bright rose-red and white, especially striking in the garden picture because of its great carrying power. Viewed closely, it is a flower with solid rose-red standards and falls of the same color striped white . . . quite different than the usual haft markings of heavily veined types. An easy doer with nicely branched stems, three feet tall. A good supply permits introduction at the low price of $3.00 each."

'Red Cross' was the pollen parent of Kleinsorge's 'Illusion' (1943).

Additional information included in Cooley's 1939 catalog says, "It is almost an exact counterpart of 'Mary Geddes' in markings and type, but instead of an orange or salmon cast this one appears as rose red. A Kleinsorge introduction of 1938."

From research it looks like Red Cross was not too widely distributed throughout the country. Besides Cooley's, Silverton, OR, who sold it for only four years from its introduction in 1938 there were a handful of other nurseries that carried it for a time. Cottam Iris Gardens in Union, MO had it on its price list from as early as 1951 through 1956. It was also found in Dorothy Stoner's Iris Garden catalog, Merriam, KS from 1939 to 1941. From 1939 to as late as 1941 Ella Callis sold it from her Wild Rose Iris Gardens out of St. Joseph, MO. As more nursery catalogs are being digitalized every year there may be more listings but this is what was found as of December 2024.

See below:

• * References

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References:

American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Vol. 71, p. 48, 71). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58640155, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58640178
American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Issue 73, p. 52). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58616241
Wild Rose Iris Garden., Mrs. Ella W. Callis (Firm), & Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. (1941). Wild Rose Iris Garden, 1941 (p. 24). Wild Rose Iris Garden. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/60693990
American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Issue 74, p. 38). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58616305
American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Issue 78, p. 24). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58640451
American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Vol. 86, p. 63). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/55997886
American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Vol. 92, p. 62). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58657464
American Iris Society., Sturtevant, Robert Swan., American Iris Society., & Sturtevant, Robert S. (1920). Bulletin of the American Iris Society (Vol. 95, p. 20). American Iris Society. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58657670
Cooley’s Gardens. & Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. (1938). Cooley’s Gardens : Silverton, Oregon 1938 (p. 6). Cooley’s Gardens. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43896868
Cooley’s Gardens. & Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. (1939). Cooley’s Gardens : Silverton, Oregon 1939 (p. 32). Cooley’s Gardens. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43826615
Cottam Iris Garden, Cottam, Audrey B., & Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. (1957). 1957 selections from the Cottam Iris Garden. Cottam Iris Garden. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/62892213
Iris Garden., Stoner, Dorothy., Dorothy Stoner (Firm), & Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection. (1939). The Iris Garden, 1939 (p. 17). Dorothy Stoner. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/60092838

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Interested in Tall Bearded Iris? Please visit the: Tall Bearded Iris Society website.

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-- BobPries - 2011-03-07

• This variety was listed at its introduction and never appeared in another catalog again, as far as I have been able to find. Why did it disappear? -- Main.mikeu - 29 Sep 2019
• Mike, I did find this in four other nursery catalogs…see references above. -- DavidPotembski - 04 Dec 2024