1931, Mohr-Mitchell
'Alta California' (William Mohr- and Sydney B. Mitchell, R. 1931). TB. Midseason bloom. Color Class S6D. Bicolor blend of 'Caterina' shape and habit; Standards mustard yellow; Falls olive buff flecked vinaceous. 4 ft. haft conspicious, closly dotted and veined. beard yellow-orange. ('Alcazar' x 'Esplendido') X ( 'Shekinah' x 'Argentina'). Honorabile Mention 1936.
Nursery listings from 1939 CL: Salbach 1931, Berry 1937; Orpington 1938; Katkamier 1939:
Additional nursery/catalog listings: Longfield 1939
ALTA CALIFORNIA (Mohr-Mitchell). The aristocrat of yellow iris, holding its large beautiful golden yellow flowers four feet above the ground. The stems are superbly branched, the standards clear yellow, the Falls deep yellow, faintly bronzed, with brown markings on the haft. So firm is the texture that neither the sun nor ithe rain mar the shapely blossoms. As it contains only 1/8 mesopotamica it should be perfectly hardy. Everyone who has seen this lovely yellow agrees that this is the greatest advance in thiis color to date, and we venture to predict that it will be used as much in the breeding for future yellows as was Dominion for the dark flowers. 48". $35.00. (Salbach, 1931).
Alta California: Bicolor, blend S6D Mohr-Mitchell 1931.Brief: Of Caterina shape and habit; S. mustard ;yellow; F. olive buff flushed vinaceous; 4 ft. Details S. domed; notched; F. drooping; haft conspicuous, closely dotted and veined; beard yellow orange. Color of Endymion, a deeper Gilead. (Sturtevant, 1934, p. 26).
ALTA CALIFORNIA (Mitchell). First of the big, tall yellows, Alta California is still one of the best. Tallest of all the yellows, and a variety which has been recognized as outstanding wherever grown. Striking for mass planting, and excellent in every way. Color bright bronzy yellow, form of. bloom perfect, and branching habit ideal. H.M., A.I.S. Mid-season. 48" __ 25c; 3 for 50c. (Salbach, 1940).
So tall and superbly branched an iris as Alta California, first of the series of yellows for which Prof. Mitchell gained such fame, still has great value in landscaping; its substance and sparkling color are still good. (McCombs, 1948, p. 54).
Alta California: (Mitchell) 1.) One of the best yellows to date for garden value. 2.) The shape of the flower is not perfect and the veining at the haft is a mild defect, but it is a very effective yellow and a great addition to any garden. 3.) The brown veining sometimes noticeable in the haft is almost entirely absent in this locality. (A.I.S., 1935, p. 79).
See below:
American Iris Society. (1936). Awards ALTA CALIFORNIA (Mohr-Mitchell). The aristocrat of yellow iris, holding its large beautiful golden yellow flowers four feet above the American Iris Society ground. The stems are superbly branched, the standards clear yellow, the Falls deep yellow, faintly bronzed, with brown markings on the haft. So firm is the texture that neither the sun nor ithe rain mar the shapely blossoms. As it contains only 1/8 mesopotamica it should be perfectly hardy. Everyone who has seen this lovely yellow agrees that this is the greatest advance in thiis color to date, and we venture to predict that it will be used as much in the breeding for 1936. future yellows as was Dominion for the dark flowers. 48". $35.00. (Salbach, 1931). Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 63(October 1936), 62. |
Catalog References: Alta California: Bicolor, blend S6D Mohr-Mitchell 1931.Brief: Of Caterina shape and habit; S. mustard ;yellow; F. olive buff flushed vinaceous; 4 ft. Longfield 1939Details S. domed; notched; F. drooping; haft conspicuous, closely dotted and veined; beard yellow orange. Color of Endymion, a deeper Gilead. (Sturtevant, 1934, p. 26). |
See also 'Alta Californica' on the HIPS website |
Sturtevant, R. (1934). Descriptions ALTA CALIFORNIA (Mitchell). First of varieties: Part VI, the big, tall yellows, Alta California is still one of the best. Tallest of all the yellows, and a variety which has been recognized as outstanding wherever grown. Striking for mass planting, and excellent in every way. Color bright bronzy yellow, form of. bloom perfect, and branching habit ideal. H.M., A.I.S. Mid-season. 48" __ 25c; 3 for 50c. (Salbach, 1940). Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 53(October 1934), 24-39. |
---Carl Salbach 1940 Catalog So tall and superbly branched an iris as Alta California, first of the series of yellows for which Prof. Mitchell gained such fame, still has great value in landscaping; its substance and sparkling color are still good. (McCombs, 1948, p. 54). |
McCombs, L. (1948) A critical Alta California: (Mitchell) 1.) One evaluation of older iris. the best yellows to date for garden value. 2.) The shape of the flower is not perfect and the veining at the haft is a mild defect, but it is a very effective yellow and a great addition to any garden. 3.) The brown veining sometimes noticeable in the haft is almost entirely absent in this locality. (A.I.S., 1935, p. 79). Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 110(July 1948) |
American Iris Society. (1935). 1934 comments by accredited judges. (1936). Awards of the American Iris Society for 1936. Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 63 55(February 1935), 79. (October 1936), 62. |
See also Catalog References: 'Alta Californica' Longfield 1939 on the HIPS website |
Sturtevant, R. (1934). Descriptions of varieties: Part VI, Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 53(October 1934), 24-39. |
---Carl Salbach 1940 Catalog |
McCombs, L. (1948) A critical evaluation of older iris. Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 110(July 1948) |
American Iris Society. (1935). 1934 comments by accredited judges. Bulletin of the American Iris Society, 55(February 1935), 79. |
FURTHER CULTURAL INFORMATION |
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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. |
BobPries - 21 Apr 2019
'Alt. California' in Gardeners' Chronicles 99: page 392, 13 June 1936.
Distribution: Salbach 1939
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Interested in Tall Bearded Iris? Please visit the: Tall Bearded Iris Society website.
Interested in Historic Irises ? Please visit the: Historic Iris Society website.
-- BetsyHiggins - 2010-09-13
I | Attachment | Action | Size | Date | Who | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPG | Alta_California.JPG | manage | 49 K | 30 Jan 2011 - 18:51 | IrisP | |
jpg | Alta_California.jpg | manage | 231 K | 31 Oct 2016 - 17:05 | BobPries | From Carl Salbach 1940 catalog |
jpg | Alta_CaliforniaHIPS.jpg | manage | 14 K | 31 Oct 2016 - 17:06 | BobPries | From Mike Lowe's original HIPS website |
jpg | alta-california-jb.jpg | manage | 32 K | 14 Feb 2013 - 20:12 | Main.Harloiris | photo courtesy Mike Unser |
jpg | alta-california1-08.jpg | manage | 55 K | 10 Apr 2016 - 05:08 | Main.mikeu | Photo by Mike Unser |
jpg | alta-california1-12.jpg | manage | 64 K | 10 Apr 2016 - 05:08 | Main.mikeu | Photo by Mike Unser |
JPG | altacalifornia01.JPG | manage | 578 K | 27 Apr 2018 - 00:09 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Nancy McDonald-The Pickle Barrel Collection. |
JPG | altacalifornia02.JPG | manage | 612 K | 27 Apr 2018 - 00:11 | Main.TLaurin | Photo by Nancy McDonald-The Pickle Barrel Collection. |
JPG | altacalifornia9.JPG | manage | 430 K | 20 Feb 2021 - 21:39 | Main.TLaurin | Photo scanned from the 1936 Cooley's Iris Gardens catalogue by Terry Laurin |