Jolly Goliath

Jolly Goliath (Lloyd Zurbrigg, 1969) is a commanding tall bearded iris, reaching an impressive 44" (112 cm) and celebrated for its remarkable reblooming performance. This garden-showpiece features near-white standards that contrast vividly with its rich violet-purple falls, which pale to near white at the ruffled edges, creating a luminous, high-contrast effect. The beard is a captivating blend—white tipped yellow in the throat and blue at the end—adding painterly detail to each bloom. Lightly fragrant and bred from ‘Purple Duet’ x ‘Sunset Blues’, Jolly Goliath is a collector-grade iris with a proven rebloom record in CA, TX, VA, and the Netherlands (USDA Zones 6b, 7, 9). Introduced by Avonbank in 1971, this cultivar is a bold, memorable addition to any landscape, offering both dynamic presence and refined beauty. Attributes: Edge Trim, Guardian Garden, Historic, Rebloomer, Ruffled Rebloomer This cultivar is a known rebloomer. Known Rebloom Zones: Zone 6b, Zone 7, 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.