Paul Black has been working with fertile IB's in some of his recent crosses, and notes those that are fertile. If you specifically want one for crossing then it would be important to check it's fertility before buying, but I never buy mine to cross so haven't kept up on which are fertile vs infertile.

Traditionally, IBs were created by crossing TBs to SDBs.

Most TBs are tetraploid with 48 chromosomes and most SDBs are amphidiploid with 40 chromosomes. Seedlings produced by crossing TBs and SDBs are usually infertile, then, because they have an unbalanced set of chromosomes, but weird things can happen with plant genetics so a few end up being fertile.

There are also other ways to create IBs, including using Iris aphylla which is a naturally 48 chromosome tetraploid species that is about IB-sized. So, you can cross it to TBs and get fertile offspring. If you look deeply enough into Paul Black's fertile IBs, you'll usually find Iris aphylla somewhere.

Thanks for that information, Kent!

More about Iris aphylla:

https://theamericanirissociety...

I also used I. aphylla in my BB line which produced my Hi Buddy. That is why it is a bit plain compared to other BBs & needs ruffles added to conform to many people's ideas of modern BBs. However many people like it & it is a great grower, another trait of aphylla & the extra buds (7).

Lucy, your Hi Buddy is classically beautiful!!

janwax said:Lucy, your Hi Buddy is classically beautiful!!

This all was really good info. I really like the BB's and IB's because we have high Spring winds and the shorter fair much better. The IBs also are wonderful because they bloom early before the heat shows up so the blooms stay fresh longer. Plus neither take up as much space which means.. More Irises.

Thank you, it's just that the current style is for more ruffles. I like it, however. The fact that I turn 85 next month & have more trouble getting out into the garden, puts a damper on my hybridizing efforts. By the way, IBs are more successful as pod parents.

Looks like my "Burton Bed" needs to get a bit bigger !....congratulations, Lucy !

janwax said:Lucy, your Hi Buddy is classically beautiful!!

• Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Hi Buddy')
• Uploaded by KentPfeiffer

• Border Bearded Iris (Iris 'Hi Buddy')
• Uploaded by Misawa77

Absolutely love it!!

Lucy: I love Ruffles but I also like more classic style. I don't just want Ruffles. I would yearn for clean smooth lines very quick if all I had is ruffled irises.
I have an order in at Winterberry and I think I will add Hi Buddy if still available. Is it Diamond dusted?

don't think so. it has a fairly flat finish.

GreenIris said:Lucy: I love Ruffles but I also like more classic style. I don't just want Ruffles. I would yearn for clean smooth lines very quick if all I had is ruffled irises.
I have an order in at Winterberry and I think I will add Hi Buddy if still available. Is it Diamond dusted?

Winterberry is my favorite vendor. May I ask which ones you ordered?

Jan - I remember reading in one of the Tempo Two catalogs that Barry Blyth doesn't use intermediates in his breeding because a lot of the children created don't fit into the iris size classifications. He ended up with large flowers on short stems or small flowers on tall stems.

Hi Buddy is a blue tinted white & a great grower & much to our amasement reblooms in Texas. Don't think it will do so in N. M. however.

Lucy: Thanks for the info. I think I want it

Hybridizer: They are one of my favorites too. Hollywood Nights, My Generation,
Country Cork, Monet Sky, Quick, Toyboat, Refreshing, Amakiki, Shero.

GreenIris said:Lucy: Thanks for the info. I think I want it

Hybridizer: They are one of my favorites too. Hollywood Nights, My Generation,
Country Cork, Monet Sky, Quick, Toyboat, Refreshing, Amakiki, Shero.

great choices!!

Elsa - do you mean Don Spoon's Quik? It really does have the color of Nestle Quik. It is a great iris. I was really happy with My Generation last year. Hope to get a better show this year!

Lestv said:Elsa - do you mean Don Spoon's Quik?

• Tall Bearded Iris (Iris 'Quik')
• Uploaded by Lestv

It really does have the color of Nestle Quik. It is a great iris. I was really happy with My Generation last year. Hope to get a better show this year!

Quik looks and smells like chocolate, what a great name for a great iris.