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PlantFiles: Tall Bearded Iris
Iris 'Dusky Challenger'

 
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Family: Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee) (Info)
Genus: Iris (EYE-ris) (Info)
Cultivar: Dusky Challenger
Hybridized by Schreiner; Year of Registration or Introduction: 1986

» View all varieties of Iris

3 vendors have this plant for sale.

8 members have or want this plant for trade.

Class:
Tall Bearded (TB)

Height:
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)

Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction

Bloom Color:
Purple
Dark Purple/Black

Bloom Time:
Late Midseason (MLa)

Foliage:
Herbaceous

Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Patent Information:
Non-patented

Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)

Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed

Awards (if applicable):
Honorable Mention
Award of Merit
Dykes Memorial Medal

Click thumbnail
to view:

By jfrizzell
Thumbnail #1 of Iris  by jfrizzell

By Nancymo
Thumbnail #2 of Iris  by Nancymo

By gmason
Thumbnail #3 of Iris  by gmason

By loic
Thumbnail #4 of Iris  by loic

By mgh
Thumbnail #5 of Iris  by mgh

By Joan
Thumbnail #6 of Iris  by Joan

By kjpearce1979
Thumbnail #7 of Iris  by kjpearce1979

There are a total of 15 photos.
Click here to view them all!

Profile:

4 positives
1 neutral
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Positive pajaritomt On Feb 9, 2008, pajaritomt from Los Alamos, NM (Zone 5a) wrote:

This is one of the most beautiful irises I have ever seen. It has huge dark bluish-purple flowers in profusion and is very tall. It grows and multiplies well and is a real attention getter in the garden. I would not want to have a garden without it.

Neutral Joan On May 24, 2007, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:

Awards: Honorable Mention 1988; Award of Merit 1990; Dyke's Medal 1992


Editor's Note

Rhizomes (thickened roots) and rootstocks, fresh or dry, of all Iris species and cultivars are poisonous if ingested. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and elevated temperature following ingestion. Some resources claim the toxic principal (irisin, iridin, irisine) only cause low toxicity if eaten.

Skin irritation can develop upon contact with seeds, rhizomes, rootstock, or cell sap.

We tend to err on the side of caution in PlantFiles, and the danger notation in the details above is to warn gardeners, parents, and pet owners to look further for more information.
Positive angelap On Apr 10, 2005, angelap from Weatherford, TX (Zone 7b) wrote:

I agree about the weather affecting the color! Some years my Dusky Challenger is deep, deep blue, almost black, and some years it is lighter, more of a royal blue color.

Positive doss On Mar 14, 2005, doss from Stanford, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

This 39" mid to late bloomer was awarded the HM '88; AM '90 and Dykes Medal '92. This Iris has huge blooms, a great substance and a lovely fragrance. It is one that I will always have in my garden. Blooms on the late side here which extends the season.

Positive NellPercy On Apr 30, 2004, NellPercy from Ponca City, OK wrote:

I have about decided that temprature affects the color on this one. Mine is usually the color in gmason's picture. This year it has been cold all of April and it opened almost black.

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

Dothan, Alabama
Gaylesville, Alabama
Stanford, California
Hebron, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Durham, Maine
Hagerstown, Maryland
Preston, Maryland
Robertsville, Missouri
Shepherd, Montana
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Greeneville, Tennessee
Lubbock, Texas
Weatherford, Texas
Portsmouth, Virginia
Selah, Washington
Washougal, Washington
Madison, Wisconsin
Sheridan, Wyoming



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