Sixtine’s Pink is a lovely, soft pink, with elegant carriage and grace. Standards are a slightly deeper tint. Creamy centers characterize the falls. Tangerine beards introduce a third color. It’s very tall with large flowers. It’s also both noticeably fragrant and a vigorous grower. Sixtine’s Pink is named for Sixtine Cayeux, of the famous Cayeux Iris Gardens in France. Four years ago she spent a summer at our Gardens, winning our hearts in the process. We promised to name an iris after her if she stayed here. It wasn’t enough to keep her here..... Ben Hager wrote in The Iris that 100 years ago, breeders couldn’t understand why they were unable to get pinks, when they crossed orchid pinks. Tetraploidy gave them a range of new colors, including pinks.