Brighteyes

Brighteyes (Gerald Darby, 1957) is a remarkable intermediate bearded iris, reaching 16" and blooming early in the season. This captivating cultivar features luminous lemon-yellow self petals, dramatically accented by a bold dark blue thumbprint on the falls and a greenish yellow haft, all without reticulations for a clean, graphic look. With a pedigree from Welch seedling #H-503 x 'Missouri Night', Brighteyes is celebrated for its reliable reblooming performance, reported across multiple states and USDA Zones 5–9, as well as the Netherlands. Its vibrant, high-contrast coloration and dynamic presence make it a standout addition to any garden, perfect for those seeking a garden-showpiece with pedigree-worthy appeal. Attributes: Guardian Garden, Historic, Rebloomer Rebloomer This cultivar is a known rebloomer. Known Rebloom Zones: Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9 Rebloom Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Guardian Garden (GG) This cultivar is a Guardian Garden Iris. Guardian Garden irises are endangered cultivars preserved through long-term stewardship rather than routine sale. Many of these varieties have been lost to time through attrition, discontinued propagation, or the disappearance of original growers, leaving only a few known living examples in cultivation. When a Guardian Garden variety is offered, it reflects that a sustainable stock level has finally been reached within our collection; availability remains intentionally limited to protect the cultivar’s future. We encourage collectors who value historic preservation to support the continued safeguarding of rare and endangered irises by joining the Historic Iris Preservation Society.