French Historic Tall bearded Iris OCHRACEA-COERULEA

This iris has a confused past with its name which was changed to Sunset because apparently the name 'Ochracea-Coerulea' was considered 'Clumsy'. I covered this issue in the post 'The Iris Re-Christened SUNSET', originally published in 'The Garden' in 1922. As you can see below Lee Bonnewitz discription of the iris in his 1926 catalogue was also confusing.  Ochracea-Coerulea is without doubt a stylish iris that one could expect to see at Giverny, the Gardens of Claude Monet or possibly it is in the Iris collection...

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2014 Tall Bearded Iris GRANDE COQUETTE

This is Richard Cayeux favourite introduction for 2014 and is certainly a stand out Iris with that 'let me show you a thing or two about colour' look that certainly pushes the boundaries. Its both elegant and bold. (Now who would of thought that combination was possible?) Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014. New 2014 varieties created by Cayeux. GRANDE COQUETTE Tall bearded - Late - Height :95cm Entirely new: large flowers with pale blue...

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French Historic Tall Bearded Iris SERAPHITA

Classic form with dazzling colours that would give your garden zing and a whole lot of zang. A stylish iris that one could expect to see at Giverny, the Gardens of Claude Monet. These irises are once again becoming available for purchase from commercial growers, and I'm sure they will create a renewed interest in classic irises and be wildly popular with gardeners who appreciate real class.Séraphîta is the title of a French novel by Honoré de Balzac published in 1834 in the 'Revue de Paris'. Rene Cayeux, 124 rue Camille-Groult,...

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French Historic Tall Bearded Iris PAILLASSE

Truly an amazing Iris with great presence. Historical + and a variety that gives an insight to just how French hybridisers  in the 20's and the 30's were so well advanced in the field of colour, size of bloom, producing flowers of world class in the classic form. I'm so glad these stylish irises that one would expect to see at Giverny, the Gardens of Claude Monet are once again becoming available for purchase from commercial growers, and I'm sure they will create a renewed interest in these classic irises and be...

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2014 Tall Bearded Iris ASTANA

Heritage Irises are privileged to have been asked to feature some of the 2014 New Varieties created by Richard Cayeux. European Irises do not always get the exposure to the English speaking media that they justly deserve so I thought 'OK,  lets give them a plug'. Don't forget to visit the Cayeux Web Site. Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014. New 2014 varieties created by Cayeux. ASTANA Tall bearded - Mid-season - Height :85cm Inheriting its excellent branching and numerous...

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2014 Tall bearded Iris AILE VOLANTE

Heritage Irises are privileged to have been asked to feature some of the 2014 New Varieties created by Richard Cayeux. This Space Age Iris is an absolute  vivid masterpeice.  European Irises do not always get the exposure to the English speaking media that they justly deserve so I thought 'OK' lets give them a plug. Don't forget to visit the Cayeux Web Site. Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014. New 2014 varieties created by Cayeux. AILE VOLANTE Tall bearded - Mid-season...

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2014 Tall Bearded Iris BAIE DES ANGES

Heritage Irises are privileged to have been asked to feature some of the 2014 New Varieties created by Richard Cayeux. European Irises do not always get the exposure to the English speaking media that they justly deserve so I thought 'OK' lets give them a plug. Don't forget to visit the Cayeux Web Site.  Cayeux, La Carcaudière, Route de Coullons, France. Iris Lover's Catalogue, 2014. New 2014 varieties created by Cayeux BAIE DES ANGES Tall bearded - Mid-season - Height :80cm A very attractive solid light to medium...

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CLEOME, Spider Flower, Spider Legs, Grandfather's Whiskers, Cats Whiskers.

Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol. 40, 1814 CLEOME SPINOSA.  PRICKLY CLEOME. Class and Order. TETRADYNAMIA SILIQUOSA This is undoubtedly the same plant that is described and figured by WILLDENOW, under the name of CLEOME  pungens, in his Hortus Berolinenfis ( Berolini, Apud G. Reimer,1827-33); but we see no reason to support it to be distinct from CLEOME spinosa of Linnaeus. The author himself observes that they are very similar,...

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Iris Species X HOLDEN CLOUGH

It's thanks to the bee's and the chance find and intrigue of a plantsman. Its pedigree may never be really known, but my what a beautiful exotic looking flower that originated from England no less. Named after the nursery where the plant originated and is  still sold today at the Holden Clough Nursery, Bolton-by-Bowland, in Lancashire. Considered to be a 'Water or Bog Iris' but so long as you take care not to let the plant dry out in the summer season until the plant is established it will grow well in the...

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