French Historic Intermediate Bearded Iris ARCHEVÊQUE

Within the framework of the in-depth study concerning French horticultural heritage that I have been working on for many years, the Parc Floral de Paris asked for my help checking the identification  of the cultivars they possess and the reorganisation of their collection of both bearded and species irises.  They sent me certain plants in order to achieve that objective and ‘Archevêque’ is one of the plants I have had the pleasure of observing first hand.   The rigid but fine bloom stalk is 50 cm high, has four buds...

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French Historic Tall Bearded Iris, INNOCENZA.

The American Iris Society published a Discard List in 1931 and included amongst the 141 Lémon varieties listed for discard was today's featured iris 'Innocenza'.  I still find this list to be at the time an incredulous level of arrogance by some within the iris world. Amazingly short sighted to suggest the discard of irises that were mainly British or European bred, listed on 22 pages with an average of 70 irises per page (approx. 1500 irises). The legendry breeder William Caparne when campaigning vigorously...

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Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris ALEXANDRA TWILIGHT

Another of the beetroot red colour so popular or is the word prevalent within the Standard Dwarf Iris class. 'Alexandra Twilight' has a parentage like a double dose of Cherry Garden. Bred by Helen Falconer a well known New Zealand gardener from Central Otago. Produces a good measure of blooms, that display themselves well above the foliage. Hardy. Helen Falconer received the NZIS Lucy Delany Award for 'Alexandra Twilight' when it was displayed as a seedling at the Central Otago Iris Safari...

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Historic Border Bearded Iris RICHARD II

The Garden, 1st July 1916. AWARDS OF MERIT. Iris germanica Richard II. — A late-flowering Bearded Iris said to be a seedling from Black Prince, and, if so, would, we imagine, be more correctly grouped with the I. neglecta varieties. It is a handsome and distinct sort, with deep purplish violet falls bordered with white ; standard'- bluish white. Valuable for its late flowering. From Mr. Amos Perry, Enfield. The Gardener's Chronicle, July 1st, 1916. Iris Richard II. — The new Iris illustrated  in fig. 3 is...

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Spuria Iris SON OF SUN

Spuria Iris have not been available to be purchase from a commercial source in New Zealand since Waimate Iris Gardens stopped selling Spuria Iris in 2004 some ten years ago. The bright and showy 'Son of Sun' was gifted to me by Eddie Johns of the once famous Otara Birch Gardens in Rongotea who back when had a huge iris collection. I have a Iris friend in the Bay of Plenty that was able to purchase a few varieties from a South Island Grower, but the state of the market in New Zealand for one of the best long stem cut flower...

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Tall Bearded Iris GOOD EARTH

Has been popular in our garden for years, 'GOOD EARTH' is a honey of a bold golden bronze self. Vigorous  grower which quickly produces a great garden clump after division. Thick well branched stems support the large blooms. For a long time this iris sold in New Zealand as an Iris without ID, and recently sent to me to be ID labelled as 'Debbie's Brown'. Hamner's Iris Garden, Perris California. 1979 Introductions. GOOD EARTH-TB, 36-38", M. Rich golden bronze self with strong, ...

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