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 against the discard list wrote "It is a narrowing down of the idea of things beautiful instead of expanding it".

Bertrand H. Farr, Wyomissing Pennsylvania. Farr's Catalogue of Hardy Plants Specialities, 1910.
Iris Germanica-Variegata Section.
INNOCENZA. S. and F. ivory white, crest rich golden, a very delicate and beautiful flower, 26 in. 25c.

G. G. Whitelegg & Co, Chislehurst, Kent,Catalogue of Irises 1921
June Flowering Irises, General Collection.
Innocenza. Pure white, with slight reticulations at the throat. A most useful variety.

Les Iris Cultivés,  1922.
choix de 100 variétés
39. Innoncenza (Lémon 1854). Blanc presque pur.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, January 1923, Number 7.
Descriptions of Varieties, Part II.
INNOCENZA 71 (21)
Self, W.                Lemon, 1854
Brief. White. S. cupped; F. drooping; stalk low and well-branched;
growth moderate to vigorous; 30 in.
Details. Haft finely reticulated blackish purple to burnt lake; beard
conspicuous white, orange tip.

Cayeux & Le Clerc, Quai de la Mègisserie, 8, Paris. Catalog 1925.
Innocence (Lémon 1854) Pure white, with slight reticulations at the throat, yellow beard.

Vilmorin Andrieux & Cie, 4 Quai de la Mégisserie, Paris (1er), Plantes 1925.
Iris Vivaces Hybrids, Série Générale.
Innocenza. Tardif. Fleurs blanc pur avec chenille jaune, à divisions infèrieures lègèrement striées brun à la base.

Cornell Extension Bulletin 112, Austin W. Sand, 1925.
Innocenza. (Lémon 1854) Color effect a white self. Standards white with brown and purple reticulations on the claw. Falls clear white, inconspicuously veined purple on the haft.
The dense beard is conspicuously orange tipped. Innocenza ia a moderately vigorous grower, with a medium, yellow green foliage. The low branching flowering stalks are freely produced, and carry flowers of a good substance till late in the season. Its clear color and showy, golden beard make it one of the best ten, a good cut flower and excellent for mass effect. It is one of the older sorts, not fully appreciated when rated at 71.

Courtesy U S Department of Agriculture Farmers Bulletin 1406

U S Department of Agriculture Farmers Bulletin 1406, January 1926.
Garden Irises B. Y. Morrison
Beginning with the white varieties, there is a group in which are included the truly white ones, as, for example, Iris albicans (fig. 22) ; those which are white with some colored reticulations in the throat, as in Innocenza (fig. 23) or Mrs. Horace Darwin; those of white faintly washed or tinted with color, but still counting for white in garden effect, as in Iris florentina (fig. 24), and perhaps as in Pancroft, which may be taken as the/other extreme of tinting;

E.Turbat & Cie , Route d'Olivet 67, Orleans, France.
Automne 1930 Printemps 1931 (variétés nouvelles ou rares)
Innocence (Innocenza). Blanc pur avec chenille blanche légèrement strié brun à la base. Tardif.

  AIS Checklist 1939
INNOCENZA TB-M-WW (Lémon 1854) Van Houtte 1854; Garden Chronicle 1894, Van Tubergen 1900; Farr, 1912; Wing 1920; Buccleuch Nursuries,1938; AAA Journal Royal Horticultural Society; Highly Commended Royal Horticultural Society 1903; Commended Royal Horticultural Society 1917; Journal Royal Horticultural Society 1918; Horticultural Directory and Year Book, 1918;

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
 Major Hat Tips and "Merci beaucoup" to Nathalie Faivre for her amazing photo's, and Parc Floral de Paris for the use of the photo's, and to Catherine Adam for her direction and help with the French Language, catalogue listings, and my sincere thanks for her tireless pursuit with the preservation of French Historic Irises, we are all truly grateful.

Reproduction in whole or in part of these photo's without the expressed written permission of Parc Floral is strictly prohibited.
Photo credits and copyright Nathalie Faivre and Parc Floral de Paris © .

Reproduction in whole or in part of this post, its opinions or its images without the expressed written permission of Terry Johnson is strictly prohibited. Copyright Terry Johnson and Heritage Irises ©

Read More

Historic Iris listings CHOICE FLOWER SEEDS CATALOG 1914

CHOICE FLOWER SEEDS

MISS EMMA V. WHITE

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

I R I S

THE POOR MAN'S ORCHID

"The Iris is the rainbow personified, a goddess who visits us in garments of indescribable splendor, whose harmonious interweaving of colors is beyond the brush of man." They are an old favorite, but in the great number of new and beautiful colorings one hardly recognizes the old "Flags" of former days. Being exceedingly hardy, requiring such little care, withal so beautiful, they should find a place in every garden.

IRIS GERMANICA (Tall Bearded Iris)
The German Iris are the hardiest and most easily cultivated. They will grow almost anywhere and in any good garden soil, but will do best in a well-drained rich loam and in full sun, though they succeed in partial shade. It is best to plant either early in the fall, or early in the spring. Plant the crown or bud two inches below the surface. Orders should be in by May 10.
In the following descriptions the upright, or standard petals, are indicated by " S " ; the falls, or drooping petals, by " F ."

GERMAN IRIS, CLASS A.
12c each; 3 for-30c; 6 for 50c; 12 for 90c.
CHALCEDONIA (also listed as Johan de Witt.) S. light mauve; F. purple heavily veined. Medium height.
FLORENTINA ALBA (Syn. Silver King). Porcelain, changing to pure white. Medium.
MADAM CHEREAU. A tall queenly flower S. and F. white, daintly edged with porcelain blue.
MARGOTIN. S. light yellow. F. yellow interlaced with magenta. Medium.
PURPLE QUEEN (also listed as Florentina Blue, German Blue, Blue Beard). Very robust, large purple flowers, very showy and imposing.
SANS SOUCI. S. canary, base reticulated dove color. F. yellow, charmingly veined and interlaced with brown fading to light maroon. Very hardy and a prolific bloomer.

GERMAN IRIS. CLASS B.
15c each; 3 for 35c; 6 for 65c; 12 for $1.25.
CELESTE. One of the purest and sweetest of flowers. S. pale blue of ultra marine cast. 'F- Light violet, edged lighter, golden beard.
CHERION. S. smoky lavender, inner petals lavender and straw. F. lilac heavily veined.
DARIUS. S. pure clear yellow. F. light violet edged with straw, charmingly veined.
GRACCHUS. S. pure lemon. F. violet, completely interwoven with delicate tracery. Medium.
QUEEN OF MAY. Soft rose lilac, almost pink, a color rare among Irises. Medium.
SAMBUCIANA BEETHOVEN. S. lilac, inner petals light yellow. F. rosy purple with orange crest. Very striking. Medium to tall.

GERMAN IRIS, CLASS C-(Extra Choice)
FAIRY. A sweet dainty flower, very fragrant. S. pure silky white, inner petals white and lavender. F. white charmingly veined. Tall. 20c; 3 for 50c.
EUGENE SUE,. S. white, inner petals white. F. violet edged white, charmingly veined. Very choice. Height 15 inches. 25c; 3 for 60c.
LADY JANE. S. light lavender, veined at the base. F. fawn color traced with heliotrope. Medium. A choice flower. 20c; 3 for 50c.
LEONIDAS. Of radiant beauty. S. purple. F. a glistening dark purple. Very handsome. Tall. 20c; 3 for 50c.
PALLIDA DALMATICA. The noblest of all the Iris family; height 3 feet, foliage broad and ornamental. Large pale blue flowers, very fragrant. 35c; 3 for 90c.
All five in Class C for $1.00.

GERMAN IRIS, CLASS D.
GERMAN IRIS, mixed, unnamed (my choice)
7c each; 3 for 20c; 6 for 35c; 12 for 50c.
GERMAN IRIS, mixed, named (my choice) 8c each; 3 for 22c; 6 for 40c; 12 for 60c.

SIBERIAN IRIS
The Siberian type is hardy as an oak and very beautiful. In bloom from June to August. Fine for cutting.
ORIENTALIS. Tall. S. violet. F. rich bluish violet. 15c.
SIBERICA (Siberian Blue). Rich blue flowers of exquisite beauty. 12c.
SIBERICA ALBA (Siberian White). Very choice white flower. 20c.
SNOW QUEEN. S. white. F. white, golden yellow at the base. A rare and beautiful flower, borne on long strong stems. 25c.
All four Siberian Irises for 65c.

JAPANESE IRIS
Orchid-like blossoms of exceeding beauty, but not quite as hardy as the German Iris. Choice mixed, 15c each; 3 for 40c; 12 for $1.50.

SPECIAL IRIS OFFERS
The Iris has been called "the rainbow personified," and certainly no other flower has a more delicate or harmonious interweaving of colors, almost beyond the brush of man to portray. Nothing will give a greater range of color for your garden, and by purchasing the different varieties you may have bloom from April until the middle of July.
Planting. German Irises succeed in partial shade, but are at their best in full sun, and will do well in any good garden soil; but the Japanese sorts like moist earth and air.

No. 1 . FOUR CHOICE IRIS
The Four for 30c. Postpaid.
Elizabeth. Very large attractive flower. S. pale lavender, shading darker; F. mauve, melting to pale blue. Medium.
Florescens. Creamy white on tall stems.
Margolin. S. clear yellow; F. yellow interlaced with magenta.
Queen of May. Soft rose lilac, almost pink; a rare color among Irises.

No. 2 . SIX CHOICE IRIS
The Six for 45c. Postpaid.
Edith. A beautiful lavender and white, with darker shadings. Medium.
Khedive. S. clouded lavender, with inner petals light lavender flecked white. F. dark lavender, orange beard. Tall,
Mad. Chereau. A great favorite; white, edged and fringed with lilac. Tall.
Orientalis. A tall growing Siberian Iris. S. violet; F. rich bluish violet.
Purple Queen, or Florentina Blue. Large, robust plant, with rich velvety purple flowers.
Sans Souci. Yellow, veined with brownish maroon; very hardy and prolific. Medium.
Price of any of the above Iris singly, 12c
each, or any 3 for 30c.
No, 3. The Two Collections for 70c, Postpaid.

AIS Checklist Entries for the above sequential catalogue order:

GERMAN IRIS, CLASS A.

CHALCEDONIA IB-B3L; (V. J. Bonnewitz 1920).

FLORENTINA ALBA (Syn. Silver King) is the species I.florentina

MADAM CHEREAU. is the iris MME. CHEREAU  TB-M-W2  (Lémon 1844)     
     
MARGOTIN is the iris *MARJOLIN TB-Y9M; (Lémon 1855-1858)

PURPLE QUEEN is PURPLE KING   IB-R1D;  (Wallich Collected 1830 Katmandu) 

SANS SOUCI. TB--M-Y9M ( attributed to Van Houtte 1854)


GERMAN IRIS. CLASS B.

CELESTE. TB-M-B1L;  (Lémon 1859) 

CHERION. is the iris CHEREAU  TB-M-S3L;  (Lémon 1844)

DARIUS. DB-MLa-Y3L; (Brown 1873)

GRACCHUS. TB-M-Y9L; (Ware 1884)

QUEEN OF MAY. TB-M-R7L ; (Salter before 1859)

SAMBUCIANA BEETHOVEN. TB-M-B7M ; (Barr 1887)


GERMAN IRIS, CLASS C-(Extra Choice)

FAIRY. TB-M-W1 ; (A. Kennicott, 1905)

*EUGENE SUE TB-M-B3L ;  (Lémon 1848)

*LADY JANE TB ; (Salter 1868)

LEONIDAS TB-M-B1M (Barr 1901)

PALLIDA DALMATICA. TB-M-B1M

Additional Irises listed only on the Sale List.

* ELIZABETH TB-R1L ; (V. J. Bonnewitz 1920)

EDITH is the iris DONNA MARIA TB-W8 ; (Lémon 1840)

KHEDIVE  TB-M-B1L ; (Barr 1884)

2006 Cumulative Check List of Siberian Irises

SIBIRICA ALBA Listed 1809 Collected SIB (dip.) (36" 9 lcm) L Barr & Sugden 1872-4: "S. white; F. mottled purple, 3' tall". Perry 1899, 1900: "Pure white, 4' tall". Wallace 1900, 1919: "White veined purple & brown". Information from Jennifer Hewitt from research from the RHS Library of old catalogs. Unknown parentage. Barr & Sugden 1872

I. sibirica Linnaeus, Carolus Listed 1753 Collected in Europe SIB-SP (dip.) (50" 120 cm) M Blue or blue-violet dark-veined flowers, 6-7cm in diameter, 2, 3, or more buds from each set of brown papery spathes; F. oblong, with a white, strongly violet-veined area in center, narrowing to a paler haft which has prominent dark veining. S. smaller, more uniformly blue-violet. Branched stems well-overtopping the narrow leaves, usually green and up to 4cm wide. Found from northern Italy eastwards through eastern Europe to Russia, west to Lake Baikal in wet meadows and damp forest margins, May to July. Dickson 1794

I. orientalis Thunberg, Carl Peter Listed 1794 Collected SIB-SP Diploid B1M. Collected in Manchuria, Korea, Japan 1794. Now classified as /. sanguinea, the ONLY AIS ACCEPTED classification. Synonyms: haematophylla; Nertchinskia; Pratensis major; Sibirica sanguinia; sibirica var. orientalis; sibirica var. sanguinea; Xiphium orientale. Unknown parentage. Macoun; Farr 1912.

SNOW QUEEN Collected By Peter Barr Listed 1900 Collected in Japan SIB (dip.) (18" 46 cm) M & re White form of /. sanguinea. Peter Barr 1900 AM: RHS: 1902

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When you need to counter that published fiction regarding San Souci and its lost name  you find yourself borrowing or buying some very interesting early American Garden plant and seed catalogues and 'Choice Flower Seeds', catalogue from 1914 is one that caught my eye.

Two things here for readers consideration.

Marketing ; A commercial garden in 1914 produces a 60 page catalogue of which only one page features Irises with only 25+ varieties, now even in 1914 its amazing marketing and it's certainly putting it out there to that important group the 'home gardeners' that I have mentioned in previous posts. 

Checklist ; Irises with a asterisks in front and in italics have been considered to be obsolete. Bloody amazing when these Irises where listed in catalogues in the 1920's yet they got written off. How many Irises were discontinued by commercial growers because the American Iris Society determined they were obsolete and by doing so the commercial growers no longer listed these irises in catalogues???

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.  Reproduction in whole or in part of this article without the expressed written permission of Terry Johnson is strictly prohibited.  Copyright Terry Johnson and Heritage Irises ©

Read More

French Historic Tall Bearded Iris JACQUESIANA

In 1839 Jean-Nicolas Lémon had published in the Annales de Flore et de Pomone a list of one hundred varieties which were mostly irises he had raised and named, 'Jacquesiana' was included in this list. Then once again in the Annales de Flore et de Pomone ou Journal des Jardin in 1841 Lémon had another article published in which he featured five of his new introductions in more detail and these varieties accompanied by a beautiful colour plate. These irises were Iris de Boismilon, Iris Madame Rousselon, Iris Madame Lémon, Iris Jacquesiana and Iris Conqueror. Lémon named 'Jacquesiana' in honour of Henri Antoine Jacques the head gardener of the Royal Neuilly Domain.

The photos of the iris 'Jacquesiana' in this post graphically display the stigma of a canary yellow colour cut longitudinally by a dark brown band, which is just how Lémon described it, and this along with the veining on the falls and the length of the beard are displayed well. The style arms protrude well past the standards that finish with strong upturning crests is also a recurring feature of early French Dipliod breeding. All these distictive features are also displayed well in the colour plate illustration.  

Annales de Flore 1839-1840, nouvelles variétés d'iris. Descriptions Jean-Nicolas Lémon
3e SÈRIE. Plantes s'élevant de 70 centimètres à 1 mètre.
Iris Jacquesiana. fond bleu azuré très tendre, pétales extérieurs pourprés brun velouté.
  

Jacquesiana

Annales de Flore et de Pomone.

July 1842

Annales de Flore et de Pomone ou Journal des Jardins
Et des champs 1841-1842 IRIS NOUVELLES.
Pour donner autant que possible une idée de la collection objet de l’article ci-dessus, j’ai fait figurer cinq iris pris dans son sein (voir planche)

4. Iris Jacquesiana. Fleur bien faite, pétales intérieurs érigés, ondulés d'un jaune serin en dedans depuis l'onglet jusqu'à près de la moitié du limbe, dont l'autre partie est teinte d'une nuance tirant sur le fauve plus ou moins foncé ; l'onglet est verdâtre, pointillé et strié en dedans de marron brun; les pétales extérieurs sont allongés, ou peu ondulés sur les bords, teints d'une couleur pensée au sommet, ensuite blancs au centre et jaunes au bord, et striés sur ces deux dernières nuances de pourpre violet; l'onglet est vert jaunâtre en dehors, les barbes sont d'un jaune orange, et les stigmates d'un jaune serin coupé longitudinalement par une bande marron foncé. Jean-Nicolas Lémon.

The Gardeners Chronicle, 'Foreign Correspondence Paris, 31st May, 1841'.
Jacquesiana, bronze lilac and brown crimson.

'The Garden', May 27, 1876, Handsome Irises, D Thomson.
There is now an almost endless variety of Irises, and for the information of these persons who may desire to form a select collection of them, the following list may be found useful......
Jacquesiana, reddish-bronze, lower petals crimson, reticulated with yellow and white.

The Gardeners Chronicle, 'The German Iris' 15 June, 1878
Mr. Robert Parker's Nursery large collection, Tooting, South London
Jacquesiana, reddish bronze, dark orange, and velvety crimson, very fine and distinct.

Cayeux & Le Clerc, Quai de la Mègisserie, 8, Paris. Catalog (thought to be 1906-1907)
Jacquesiana (Lémon 1840). Sépales cuivrés, largement pointés violet évêque, pétales cuivré clair.

The Times, July 6th, 1907
Irises, W.R.Dykes
While to sambucina we owe the scent of elder-flowers , from which it takes its name, and the gold dust which seems to cover the standards of such flowers as Jacquiniana, when seen in bright sunshine.

The Dean lris Gardens, Moneta, California.The Iris 1914.
SQUALENS GROUP The Standards Are Clouded Shades of Copper, Bronze and Fawn.
Jacquesiana. S. bright coppery crimson; F. rich maroon. Handsome. 30 inches.

Elm-Leigh Nursuries, Putney, Vermont. Season 1921.
Jacquesiana. Standards light coppery red, falls rich distinct and beautiful.

Bulletin of the American Iris Society, October 1922, Number 6.
Descriptions of Varieties, Part 1.
JACQUESIANA 8.0 (23)
Bicolor, V-R. ,blend. (d). Lémon, 1840
Brief. S. vinaceous lilac;F. flaring, velvety blackish red purple; styles and haft buff; stalk,high and well-branched'; growth vigorous; to 4 ft.
Details. Foliage tinged at base; S. revolute, ruffled, and notched; beard yellow, orange tipped; Pollen cream-white.
Remarks. Listed in England as Jacquiniana. It may be differentiated  from Arnols or Prosper Laugier by the flaring carriage of the falls.

Les Iris Cultivés  1922 (choix de 100 variétés pages 30-31-32)
Jacquesiana (Lémon 1840) Divisions supérieures rouge violacé fumé, divisions inférieures rougeâtre velouté

Cayeux & Le Clerc, Quai de la Mègisserie, 8, Paris. Catalog 1923.
Jacquesiana (Lémon 1840) S. copper-crimson shaded buff. F. wineish violet. Reticulated maroon at the throat.

Treasure Oak Nursery, Mays Landing, New Jersey, Catalog of Select Iris and Peonies, 1923.
The Best and Rarest of the Iris.
8.0 JACQUESIANA. (Lemon 1840. C., RHS.).$0.25 Squalens.
S.-Coppery crimson (Vinaceous Lilac), ruffled and notcbed. F.-Flaring black-red-purple. Leaf.-Base colored.
Resembling Prosper Laugier, though taller and of smaller bloom, and easily distinguished from either Prosper Laugier or Arnols by the flare of its fall. This is the most outstanding Iris in the older plantings and is best shown when in combination with the yellows, as Flavescens, Dawn, Aurea, or Shekinah, or the whites, as Innocenza, Albicans, or others of the type. Adapted to border planting as it appears to a greater advantage when seen close at hand.

A Handbook of Garden Irises, W.R.Dykes, 1924.
Chapter 16 Garden Bearded Irises
Of the older varieties those most likely to survive are...................
Jacquiniana (30ins., Lémon, 1840), with coppery-crimson standards and velvety maroon falls.

Cornell Extension Bulletin 112, 1925.
Bearded Iris A perennial suited to all Gardens. Austin W.W. Sand.
Jacquesiana (Lémon 1840).  Color effect a bright russet-crimson, velvety bordeaux bicolor. S. russet vinaceous, bronzed olive buff on claw. F. velvety bordeaux, netted-viened on broad light outer haft. The bronzed orange beard is fine, dense, and projecting. This plant is a vigorous grower, and has lax, slender, deep green foliage, tinged at the base. Its excellent, velvety blooms are freely produced and well carried on long stems.This exceptional variety should be included in every collection. Rating 80.

Longfield Iris Farm, Bluffton, Indiana. Price List 1926
Jacquesiana ( Lémon 1840). Standards bronzy lilac red; the flaring falls rich purple red. An old variety but still a favorite. Three feet. $0.35

A H Burgess and Son, Iris Specialist, Waikanae, Wellington. Irises 1924-1926.
Jacquesiana; Standards copper crimson; Falls maroon. 2½ft. 

Leamon G. Tingle, Pittsville, Maryland. Tingle's 1927 Catalog of Nursery Stock.
JACQUESIANA (Lemon 1840). An amazing rich coloring and exceedingly beautiful flower. S, coppery rose, deepening to a bronze throat, F, rich velvety crimson-maroon. Golden beard. 25c.

The Orpington Nurseries Co. Ltd., Orpington, Kent. Irises 1930.
Jacquiniana. (Lémon) Copper crimson standards and maroon falls. 2½ feet. A good old Iris. Late.

Rainbow Fragments, A Garden Book of the Iris, J.Marion Shull, 1931.
General list of varieties.
JACQUESIANA (Lémon 1840) Clouded crimson to blackish red purple
Freedom of Bloom......Moderate to free.
Season of Bloom ........Late
Garden Value.............Medium
Flower;
Color Class.................Bicolor
Color effect Ridgway symbols...VR-VL
Size............................Medium
Standards...................Arching
Falls...........................Flaring
Substance...................Good.
Stalk;
Character...................Erect
Height........................Medium-Tall
Buds per stem.............Few
Branching...... ............Medium
Foliage;
Character...................Medium
Leaf Color...................glaucous blue green, based tinged with purple
Growth.......................Vigorous with good increase

AIS Checklist 1929
JACQUESIANA  TB-S9M (Lémon 1840)
A.F.P 1840; Garden Chronicle 1841; Hovey 1860; Elwang 1873; Garden Chronicle 1894; The Garden June 1913; Francis 1920; Wing 1920; Sheets 1928; Class Vlc (1) AAA 145; H.C., R.H.S. 1st June 1893, shown by Wilks, Barr, Veitch; A 87; H.C., R.H.S.,14th June 1916.

Trials of Bearded Iris Royal Horticultural Society, notes  Class Vl c (1) as 'Varieties with standards in which yellow is obvious, purple predominating'.

Over the next few years historic Iris identification will certainly be challenged and some of the varieties in established collections thought 'to be so' may perhaps become 'not to be so'. 

As always clicking on the above image will take you to the larger, higher resolution version.
Major Hat Tip and "Merci beaucoup" to Catherine Adam for her direction and help with the French language, catalogue listings, and of course for sharing with you all the amazing photos of 'Jacquesiana'.

Reproduction in whole or in part of these photo's without the expressed written permission of Catherine Adam is strictly prohibited.
Photo credit and copyright Catherine Adam © .
Reproduction in whole or in part of this article without the expressed written permission of Heritage Irises  is strictly prohibited.

Read More