My imposter's identity is now known: "Caliente." There are also other similar ones that could be imposters as well. Caliente is a much deeper, darker red with 3 tone beard when viewed from the side and yellow on the top. Spartan also has 3 tones to the beard but red on the top.
Hespiris is right that most of the photos and my own plants don't match the description and one of the photos I've seen. So has the orig...Read Moreinal been almost completely replaced by another flower? The one I have is really lovely, beautiful color and sheen and grows well.
Editor's Note
We've recently discovered that there has been an Iris marketed as 'Spartan' when it isn't. It has led to a lot of confusion and nobody has been able to determine what cultivar the imposter really is.
The photos in question have been removed. Once something like this starts, the true cultivar is quickly lost in the confusion. That's what happened with the original 'Caesar Brothers' and now nobody knows for sure if the true cultivar even remains.
I have also received the imposter Spartan cultivar, but never the true cultivar until I ordered it directly from the hybridizer, Schreine...Read More
Hespiris is right that most of the photos and my own plants don't match the description and one of the photos I've seen. So has the orig...Read More
Too many irises sold as Spartan are wrong. I have yet to ever receive the correct cultivor.
Spartan is described as: "Dar...Read More
HM 1974 AM 1976