Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Raspberry Blush': A 1975 Hamblen Delight

Intermediate Bearded Iris 'Raspberry Blush'

Hybridized by Hamblen and introduced in 1975, Iris 'Raspberry Blush' bears a name of delectable charm—evoking the soft, glowing pink of ripe raspberries dusted with bloom. This mid-1970s IB from the Hamblen program captures the era's expanding pink palette in a compact, garden-friendly package.

Botanical Classification

• Family: Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee)
• Genus: Iris (EYE-ris)
• Cultivar: 'Raspberry Blush'
• Type: Intermediate Bearded Iris (IB)

1970s Pink Breeding Advances

The 1970s were pivotal for pink irises. The tangerine-bearded pink lineage (from I. pallida x I. variegata crosses) was maturing, producing clearer, brighter pinks without the bluish cast of earlier attempts. Hamblen's 1975 'Raspberry Blush' likely represents this advance: a saturated, warm pink—perhaps with a tangerine beard—on the compact IB frame.

Form and Garden Use

1975 IB form: transitional—better branching and broader falls than 1960s types, but not yet the extreme ruffling of modern IBs. Height 16–27 inches, 2–3 branches, 4–6 buds. 'Raspberry Blush' would excel in the middle border, where its clear pink harmonizes with blues, whites, and silvers. The compact stature makes it wind-resistant and proportionate to smaller gardens.

Culture

Standard IB culture. Pink TBs/IBs sometimes benefit from light afternoon shade in hot climates to prevent fading. Hamblen cultivars are generally vigorous. Divide every 3–4 years. A cultivar that brings the sweet, glowing charm of its namesake fruit to the late spring garden—a blush that never fades.