The history of Schreiner’s Iris Gardens travels back to 1915 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is here that Francis Xavier Schreiner, F.X. Schreiner for short, began his hobby of growing Iris during World War I. F.X. Schreiner was a buying agent for a department store in St. Paul. In 1920, while on one of routine business trips, he meets the first president of the newly formed American Iris Society, John Wister. At the time, few Iris were being grown from American sources and most Iris were imported from Europe. The meeting with Mr. Wister was the catalyst in F.X. becoming a serious collector of Iris. Due to job often requiring him to travel across the nation, F.X. gave his eldest son, Robert Schreiner, a copy of The Genus Iris by William R. Dykes. Robert took care of the iris gardens for his father. At times, he would return home with new Iris cultivars. By 1922, F.X. had amassed a large collection of Iris and began distributing a price list of Iris for sale in 1925. In 1928, F.X. Schreiner developed their first true catalog, named the “Iris Lover’s Catalog.”

Sadly, in 1931, F.X. Schreiner passed away. His son, Robert (Bob) Schreiner, took over the business, despite economics during the Depression. Bob Schreiner once said: “My dad told me: ‘If you want to find a pleasurable business, not one that is sharp and hard, consider the nursery game. It has aspirations of music and of Shakespeare’.”

Bob left his plant studies at the University of Minnesota to take care of the business. His sister Constance (Connie) Schreiner worked in the office in her free time with customer support and orders while she continued to attend the University of Minnesota. Bernard (Gus) Schreiner helped out in the fields during the summer while he was on vacation from school. The cold, Minnesota winters eventually proved to be difficult, as they lost a large stock of their Iris plantings and seedlings in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Bob Schreiner began searching for new home to move their industry and had sent out trial rhizomes in various parts of the country. In the end, the Willamette Valley, near Salem, Oregon was selected and in 1947, they eventually moved their operation across the nation.

By the end of World War II, Connie and Gus joined the business full time. Gus’ duties included taking over the agricultural work, running the outdoor crew and filling out and processing orders. He also transplanted the fields each fall. Connie managed the business affairs of the office and often represented Schreiner’s at national conventions. Bob worked with sales, domestic and overseas, photography and working on the Iris Lover’s Catalog. The move to Oregon in 1947 also brought about the first color Iris Lover’s Catalog. However, Bob’s first love of Iris was hybridizing. Although Gus did the actual crosses, it was always Bob who initiated the crosses. When it came time for selecting the year’s new introductions, the three of them would have a big discussion.

In 1958, the efforts of the Schreiner family paid off with their first Dykes medalist in Blue Sapphire, that large and ruffled silvery-blue self with strong bloom habits and heavy substance. This award would set off a string of awards in the 1960s including two more Dykes medalists (Amethyst Flame and Stepping Out), as well as numerous awards for hybridizing and horticultural efforts. As their popularity increased, Bob Schreiner found less and less time in the garden, and it was up to Gus to take on the responsibilities of the hybridization project.

The 1970s saw a national interest in Iris, signaling a rapid expanse of the business. The planting fields went from 50 acres to 200. The expansion and excitement were bittersweet. In 1971, the first of the founders, Connie, passed away and despite the popularity of many of their introduction from the 1970s, only Victoria Falls was awarded a Dykes Medal in 1984. In 1982, Gus Schreiner passed away, and his son, Ray Schreiner took over the hybridization program. The business eventually shifted to the third generation of the Schreiner Family. Whereas Ray took over the hybridizing program, Robert’s son, David Schreiner, continued to work on the Iris Lover’s Catalog, along with advertising. Ray’s sister Liz (Schreiner) Schmidt managed the office, the gift shop and attended to business matters. Ray's brother, Steve Schreiner, took over photography, floral arrangements and retail sales.

Titan’s Glory was awarded the Dykes Medal in 1988 and similar to Blue Sapphire, it would start off a chain of awards. Their introductions in the late 1980s and early 1990s were their most successful years, with six Dykes Medalists in a span of nine years: Dusky Challenger, Silverado, Honky Tonk Blues, Hello Darkness, Yaquina Blue and Celebration Song. The final member of the founders, Robert Schreiner passed away in 2000, writing the last chapter in their legacy and opening a new one with the future generation of Schreiner’s. the awards and achievements enjoyed by the Schreiners are a result of the foresight of F.X. Schreiner and the hard work of Robert, Connie and Bernard, their dedication to and love of horticulture in general, and Iris in particular. During the summer, some of the fourth generation of the Schreiner family can be seen helping to fill and pack orders.

RAY SCHREINER
from the Canadian Iris Society Bulletin.

Schreiner's Iris Gardens began as a hobby during World War I when Francis Xavier Schreiner started growing irises in St. Paul, Minnesota; a testament to the fact that bearded irises will grow in a variety of climates. Upon his death in 1931, Francis' children continued the business and moved the gardens to the Keizer area, north of Salem, Oregon.

Our goals in breeding irises are to develop new color patterns, improve color and flower form from what is already developed and live up to the standards that everyone looks for in growth and disease resistance.

I started crossing with my dad, Bernard (more commonly known as "Gus") in 1971. Dad would lay out the crosses and I, along with several others, would make the actual crosses. I also worked with Dad during the selection process, watching to see what he looked for and the results of his crosses. This continued until my father's death in 1981. During those years, Dad taught me just about everything I know.

Since then, I primarily make the crosses, with input from my cousin Dave Schreiner, and other family members involved in our operation. I am always ready to listen to any ideas.

When I select a seedling, I look for new color patterns: something different and pleasing. Some things are very different, but not pleasing in color. After color, I look at the shape of the flower: breadth at the haft and the form. If the flower doesn't have those two qualities, no matter how different the color, I don't consider it as introduction material. I don't necessarily look for size, but rather, good proportion. Bud count is also important. If a seedling has the best flower, but only five buds, I'll cross it with something with more buds and hope to improve on it.

Working with so many colors, it is difficult to say which color pattern I favor. When I work with a color, I envision what I will be getting and at the moment I like that color best. They are all my favorites. Plicatas, blues, reds, darks or yellows – mix up the patterns and you’re hooked! The possibilities are endless. Imagine a black with a pure white beard or a deep maroon with a blue beard.

I see the future of irises as wide open. The sky is the limit. Different patterns, more buds, longer bloom periods and repeat bloomers. What about the possibilities with the foliage? We have variegated foliage. What about extending the purple hue at the base all the way to the tip? What a contrast! You could have color all year-round. Only time will tell.

All photographs are courtesy of Schreiner's Iris Gardens.