returns in
273
days
Bloom calendar
Dusky Challenger
Tall Bearded (TB) · Schreiner, 1986, USA
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Tall Bearded (TB)
- Height × spread: 39 in tall × about 18 to 24 in wide (99 cm × 45 to 60 cm; varies with clump age)
- Bloom window: midseason to late spring
- Color & flower form: rich dark purple ruffled flowers; deep violet to black beard
- Fragrance: 2 noticeable
- USDA hardiness: zones 3 to 10
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Schreiner, 1986, USA
- Awards/registration: American Dykes Medal 1992; AIS Award of Merit 1990; Honorable Mention 1988
- Cut-flower notes: well-branched, sturdy stems; cut at pencil stage for best opening
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Deeper purple saturation than typical tall bearded iris.
- Blooms extend into the late tall-bearded window.
- Stems are notably well branched for display quality.
- Fragrance is noticeable in many plantings.
Strengths
- American Dykes Medal winner with multiple AIS awards.
- Tall, showy scapes that present many buds well.
- Color holds depth in sun.
Care in one minute
Site: full sun for 6 to 8 hours each day.
Soil: well drained and lean to neutral or slightly alkaline; keep rhizome tops just at or slightly above the soil surface.
Water: water to establish and during extended dry spells; avoid waterlogged soil to prevent rot.
Feeding: apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 in early spring and again just after bloom; keep granules off the rhizomes.
Grooming: remove spent blooms and cut stalks after flowering; divide clumps every 3 to 5 years.
Winter: in cold regions cut foliage to 3 to 6 inches in late fall and avoid mulching over rhizomes.
Watch‑outs
- Not a reliable rebloomer in most climates.
- Requires full sun and very good drainage to avoid rot.
- Divide clumps every three to five years to prevent crowding.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Registered and introduced by Schreiner in 1986. Recipient of the American Dykes Medal in 1992.
References
- American Iris Society – (TB) ‘Dusky Challenger’
- RHS Plant Finder – Iris ‘Dusky Challenger’ (TB)
- Penn State Extension – German Bearded Iris
- ASPCA – Iris toxicity for pets
