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■(TB) 'Swan Ballet'

1953, Muhlestein

'Swan Ballet' (Tell Muhlestein, R. 1953). Seedling# 51-50A. TB height 40". Midseason to late bloom. Color Class-W1. White self, white beard. 'Spanish Peaks' X seedling# 49-17: ('Azure Skies' x seedling# 45-42: ('Easter Morn' x 'Stella Polaris')). [corrected pedigree], Tell 1955.

AIS Awards: High Commendation 1954, Honorable Mention 1955; Judges' Choice 1955, Judges' Choice 1956 (First Place), Award of Merit 1957; American Dykes Medal 1959.

Other Recognitions: Premio Firenze 1958.

See below:

Swan Ballets Corrected Pedigree.jpgSwan Ballet Mike Lowe.jpgswanballet01.jpgswanballet02.JPGswanballet03.jpgswanballet04.jpgSwanBallet11.JPGSwanBallet12BHI.jpgswanballet4.jpgSwanBalletRT.jpg
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References:

From Tell’s Iris Garden catalog, 1955: SWAN BALLET (Muhlestein). M.-L. (Spanish Peaks x Faught 19H, or an Azure Skies x (Stella Polaris x Easter Morn.) Its parentage is marked in my records as the Faught white Great Lakes sdlg. 19H; however, a stray grain of pollen of the other listed may have been on the tweezers since the flower is very like this Azure Skies sldg. In any event, this is a beautiful, somewhat ruffled, white with a white beard. The falls are very round and flare horizontally, have a little ruffling and a great amount of substance. Fertile both ways. H.C. '54. Limited stock. No. 5l-50A. $25.00
From Fleur de Lis Gardens catalog 1956: SWAN BALLET (Muhl. 1955) M. L. 39 in. Spanish Peaks x (Azure Skies x (Stella Polaris x Easter Morn)). Or possibly Spanish Peaks x Faught 19H. However, I would personally credit the first as being the true parentage as I have bloomed the Azure Skies Sdlg. and found it to be almost identical to Swan Ballet. Regardless of which is correct, Swan Ballet ramains the most beautiful white we have seen. Large, with broad, round, heavily substanced petals, the whole flowar has a slight ruffling that gives it just the right amount of grace. H. M. 1955. 22.50.
 
Historic Iris Preservation Society gallery link.

Culture

Quick Summary of Cultural Directions

Hardiness Zones 4-8 for most varieties, Some cultivars tolerate colder, others tolerate warmer zones (please comment in comment box with your location if this cultivar grows well in zone 3, 4, 9, or 10.)
Exposure Prefers full sun for optimal performance, may still bloom in half-day shade
Water: Prefers well drained good garden soil, Tolerant of dry conditions in established plants, Intolerant of swampy conditions.
PH Prefers Neutral to basic solis 6.1 to 8.5, quite toleranr of more extreme conditions
Fertilizer Prefers rich conditions on relatively inorganic soils.
FURTHER CULTURAL INFORMATION Here

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Your Observations Are Valued. Please make note of bud count, branching, purple based foliage and bloom time, etc. Because these are affected by climate, note date, year and geographic location and write these and other comments in the comment box below.

 

-- JoelleFRANJEULLE - 2010-01-25 *
I Attachment Action Size Date Who Comment
Swan Ballets Corrected Pedigree.jpgjpg Swan Ballets Corrected Pedigree.jpg manage 222 K 26 May 2025 - 17:02 EdenSprings Correct Pedigree of Swan Ballet
SwanBallet11.JPGJPG SwanBallet11.JPG manage 58 K 01 Sep 2021 - 19:42 TerryLaurin Photo by Mary Hess-Bluebird Haven Iris Garden
SwanBallet12BHI.jpgjpg SwanBallet12BHI.jpg manage 70 K 05 May 2012 - 22:44 BetsyHiggins Photo by Mary Hess-Bluebird Haven Iris Garden
SwanBalletRT.jpgjpg SwanBalletRT.jpg manage 36 K 22 Jan 2012 - 20:43 BetsyHiggins Photo by Rick Tasco
Swan_Ballet_Mike_Lowe.jpgjpg Swan_Ballet_Mike_Lowe.jpg manage 36 K 25 Aug 2010 - 12:22 BobPries Curtesy of Mike Lowe from original HIPS website
swanballet01.jpgjpg swanballet01.jpg manage 17 K 13 Sep 2014 - 15:43 TerryLaurin Photo by Seagate Irises-United Kingdom
swanballet02.JPGJPG swanballet02.JPG manage 72 K 19 Jun 2014 - 02:36 TerryLaurin Photo scanned from the Rosalie Figge slide collection
swanballet03.jpgjpg swanballet03.jpg manage 85 K 04 May 2015 - 20:30 TerryLaurin Photo by George Bacon-Breezeway Iris Garden
swanballet04.jpgjpg swanballet04.jpg manage 89 K 19 Feb 2021 - 02:09 TerryLaurin Photo by George Bacon-Breezeway Iris Garden
swanballet4.jpgjpg swanballet4.jpg manage 28 K 25 Mar 2013 - 20:50 TerryLaurin Photo by His Iris Garden
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Topic revision: r37 - 03 Jul 2026, DougChyz - This page was cached on 10 Oct 2026 - 02:08.

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