Gold of Ophir


  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

  • Photo by Carlos Ayento; taken at Brighton Park Iris

ORIGINATOR: Lloyd Austin

INTRODUCED: 1956

CLASS: Arilbred

HEIGHT: 40"

BLOOM SEASON: Mid to Late

DESCRIPTION: S. deep yellow; F. bright yellow washed reddish orange.

PARENTAGE: Eupogocyclus hybrid X tall bearded (names lost in fire)

AWARDS: None

PBF: Unknown

INTERESTING INFO:
From the 1958 Austin's Rainbow Hybridizing Gardens Catalog: Named Gold of Ophir because of its coloring and its profusion of bloom remind on of a tall hedge of old-fashion Gold of Ophir roses, so loaded with rich golden flowers that hardly a leaf shows. Very definitely THIS is the Iris to plant for a wonderful mass of color in a short time. In two years each rhizome will yield a big clump of 8 to 12 tall flower stalks with about 60 flowers and buds. I know of no other Oncobred that can compete with this record. Individual flowers not large, but so plentiful, so colorful, everyone stands in admiration. Standards very deep yellow, falls bright yellow, heavily washed with reddish orange. When your neighbors see this they will all want a piece of it.

The Gold of Ophir is invoked nine times in the Old Testament as a symbol of prosperity and magnificence, as well as the source for shiploads of tributes for King Solomon. Biblical scholars have long disagreed on its whereabouts, but most now favor Somalia, on the eastern coast of Africa.