Tennison Ridge

Tennison Ridge is a tall bearded iris hybridized by James Begley and introduced by James McWhirter in 1988. This award-winning variety reaches 38" (97 cm) and offers early to midseason bloom with reliable reblooming. The standards are a rich, solid plum burgundy (RHS 71A), while the falls feature a crisp white ground, elegantly stitched with plum burgundy on the edges and deepening to near-black (187A) toward the hafts. Accented by a bronze beard tipped in burgundy and a sweet fragrance, Tennison Ridge is both visually captivating and aromatic. Parentage: Splash O Wine X Cozy Calico. Recognized with an Honorable Mention in 1991 and an Award of Merit in 1993. Available from Amethyst Creek Farm. Attributes: Edge Trim, Fertile, Guardian Garden, Historic, Rebloomer Awards: Award of Merit, Honorable Mention Rebloomer This cultivar is a known rebloomer. Known Rebloom Zones: Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10 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.