Pallida (Lamarck, 1789) TB

Iris pallida is one of the foundational species behind modern tall bearded irises, described by Jean Baptiste Lamarck in 1789. Blooming midseason and ranging widely in height, this classic medium blue self is distinguished by its wholly dry, papery bracts at flowering, silvery in the subspecies pallida and brown in the dwarfer subspecies cengialtii. Standards and falls are typically the same shade, ranging from soft lavender blue to deeper blue-purple tones. White to yellow beards, sometimes carrying a touch of orange into the throat, complete the bloom.
This is the famous grape-scented iris, known for its strong, sweet fragrance reminiscent of grape candy or grape soda. One of the most fragrant irises in cultivation, it is also historically significant, contributing to early pink tall bearded lines and serving as a backbone species in iris breeding.