Mail Order Catalogue 2008

Iris Supplement     Iris ensata     Water Iris

Irises for Aquatic Conditions    (National Collection Awarded August 2002)
An illustrated account of the Collection is available from the nursery at £15-00.

Sadly, the varieties usually for sale in garden centres are extremely limited in their colour range and suitability for the average pond.  The ordinary Yellow Flag, Iris pseudocorus, is far too much of a thug for garden
planting, and the "laevigatas" offered are normally just the species, a pretty blue, but far inferior to more recent introductions where the colour range is from white to vinous purple. We have been doing a great deal of work here to increase the choice for customers, with imports from around the world and from our own breeding
programme.  Many are entirely new in colour and all are ideal for garden situations. Like most irises these all prefer a sunny position, but most will tolerate light shade. 

Parts of an Iris Flower 
                                                                 
IRIS
-     fulva.  The fabled brick red water iris from Louisiana. A small elfin flower hardy with us, damp marshy conditions and appreciates a hot Summer! 2 ½ ft.  G
-     -   'Marvell Gold'.  Very rare in this country. Same size as the above but with delightful deep butter yellow flowers.   I

-      laevigata.  Japanese irises that should only be grown in water.  They have single or double flowers and broad sword shaped leaves. Easy to grow, flowering in late May and June.  All grow to about 2 ½ ft tall.
Planting Depth 6 ins.
-     -   The species with it's mid blue single flowers and narrow white signal.  E
-     -   'Alba'. White falls lightly speckled pale blue.  Single. E               
-     -   'Atropurpurea'.  Wine purple with a white signal. Single.  E
-     -   'Colchesteriensis'.  Pure white,with a heavily mottled deep purpley blue margin to the falls. Double.  E
-     - 'Flore-pleno'.  A pleasing mid-blue double.  J
-     -   'Liam Johns'.  Single, white translucent falls with distinctive grey veining giving an overall
silvery effect.  J
-     -   'Richard Greaney'.  Named after our first grandchild this is a most beautiful clear sky blue throughout, that we raised here in 1989. Single. J
-     -   'Rowden Seaspray'.  Very similar to 'Snowdrift' but the styles are a broad solid purple-blue. Double. J
-     -   'Rowden Starlight'.  Raised on the nursery in 2002, this striking single white has exceptionally tall standards and a classic shape. Very floriferous. J
-     -   'Snowdrift'.  Beautiful white falls tinted lilac on styles. Double. F
-     -   'Variegata'.  Mid blue flowers are set off by the glorious grey-green and white striped leaves that look wonderful throughout the season. Single. F
-     -   'x versicolor 'Tamberg Hybrid'.  Bright blue falls with a brilliant yellow signal. Standards bright blue and very tall. Long purplish-blue styles. Very eye-catching indeed. F
-     -   'Weymouth Blue'.  Good vivid blue with a large flower. Single.  E
-     -   'Weymouth Elegant'.  Large white, powdered blue on the falls. Single.  E
-     -   'Weymouth Midnight'.  Deep royal blue with a clear white signal.   Magnificent  Double.  F

IRIS
-     pseudacorus.  All these irises can be grown quite happily in any moisture retentive soil as well as water. In water the Planting Depth would be up to 10 ins. Most of the varieties are far better for growing in ponds than the species itself.
-     The species itself  (The Yellow Flag).  Not really suitable for garden ponds, this grows naturally in water meadows and lakes. Tall broad sword shaped leaves, and sparse yellow flowers in May. 4 ft.  C
-     -   'Alba'.  Large creamy white falls, and the lemon signal is outlined in charcoal grey. Standards and style cream white. A lovely delicate looking plant and rare. 2 ½ ft.  G
-     -   var. bastardii.  An ugly name for a beautiful plant!  Sometimes erroneously called "Sulphur Queen", it forms large clumps of the most lovely pale primrose yellow flowers.  Very floriferous it continues to bloom for longer than many others. 3 ½ ft.  E
-     -   'Flore Pleno'.  Double deep lemon yellow flowers. Certainly a talking point! 3 ft.  F
-     -   'Golden Queen'.  ( probably the same as 'Golden Fleece') Very deep golden yellow flowers, with no brown markings on the falls. Not as vigorous as the species.  3 ft. E
-     -   'Korea'. A collected geographical race from Korea. Smaller than the type and the golden lemon flowers  are flatter and the falls more widely spaced.  2 ½ ft.  E
-     -   'Giant Form'.  A very large variety needing plenty of room. Flowers as the species. 6 ft.  E
-     -   'Ivory'.  Pale creamy-white with a pronounced signal of brown-black markings. We find this stronger than 'Alba'. F
-     -   'Nana'.  Usual deep yellow flower with narrow falls. A curiosity where the leaves are shorter than the flower spike until after flowering, and much yellower-green than the type. 2ft. F
-     -   'Rose's Dwarf Form'. In this variety,found by a friend,  the height seldom exceeds 2ft.  F
-     -   'Roy Davidson'. A vigorous grower with pale yellow falls strongly netted brown. 4ft.  E
-     -   'Sun Cascade'. Fascinating variety where the chrome-yellow flowers are hose-in-hose. 3ft. F
-     -   'Sun in Splendour'. A very vigorous variety with huge yellow flowers. Up to 10 or more blooms on 5ft stems. F
-     -   'Variegata'.  Grown really for it's foliage which is a superb sight in April and May, when the brilliant yellow and green striped leaves first appear, later they fade to green. Yellow flowers as the species, but not as vigorous.  3 ft.  E
-      -   x versicolor 'Appointer'.  Deep red purple, signal almost all bright yellow with occasional white rays that extend down the fall. Standards the same red purple. Style pinky white.
Very strong  and striking plant.  2 ½ ft   F
-     -   x versicolor ' Limbo'.  White falls heavily overlaid with blue-purple veining. Large falls 2½ft. F
-     -   x versicolor 'Regal Surprise'.  A real eye catcher, large broad falls of a deep clear amethyst with a black and yellow signal, standards violet and style cream white. Very floriferous and easy to grow.  2 ½ ft.  G
-     -   x (chrysographes?) 'Holden Clough'.  The parentage of this magnificent iris is the stuff of argument!  Found in the well known Nursery whose name it carries.  Pale chrome falls are very heavily veined plum brown.  Orange signal also veined. Standards as falls, styles yellow.  Here it appears to grow better in damp soil rather than actually in the water. 3 ft. F

-     versicolor.  A native iris of North America it is as much at home in damp soil as in water, and does not mind a little lime.  Quickly forming clumps of branching stems carrying a mass of dainty flowers .
Very suitable for smaller ponds or containers.
-     - The species itself has many blue mauve flowers with a distinct round white signal area. 2 ft.   D
-     -   'Algonquin'.  Deep purple violet falls with large white diamond shaped signal. Standards violet, style white with pronounced purple rib and tips. 2 ft.  E
-     -   'Between the Lines'.  Paper white, with dark blue veining. Lemon yellow signal, Standards as the falls but rounded, style white. A very dainty and desirable plant. 2 ft. G
-     -   'China West Lake'.  Romantically named after its discovery on Manchu Lake, Peking. Very large reddy-purple flowers with big white signal and purple veins ray out from the throat, salmon pink styles. 3ft. H
-     -   'Kermesina'.  Dull claret purple falls, large white rounded signal with claret rays. Standards tall and a deep pink, style pink and white. A large flower too. 2 ½ ft. F
-     -   'Rosea'.  Smallish pale pink flowers. White signal overlaid creamy yellow on the fall and small pale pink standards, style white with a pink central rib. One of the few real "pink" water irises.  1 ½ ft.  G
-     -   'Rowden Alegro'  Very deep wine-purple flowers with a large white signal, deep yellow throat. 2 ½ ft. I           
-     -   'Rowden Aria'  True sugar pink falls, darker than 'Rosea', large white signal with lemon centre at the throat. Standards paler pink than the falls with darker veining, style pure white. Very striking. 2 ½ ft. I
-      -  'Rowden Cadenza' . An outstanding new iris. White falls with deep claret veining and a lemon yellow throat. Standards as falls. Style white, with pink flushed central rib. The foliage is a glaucous green. This is a very strong and floriferous plant. A gem in every way. M
-     -   'Rowden Calypso'.  Deep plum purple narrow falls, standards the same colour, style pinky white. A dainty flower. I
-     -   'Rowden Cantata'.  Lovely deep blue violet falls with a large white signal. Very floriferous and a strong tall grower.  I
-     -   'Rowden Concerto'. Very dark purple falls, large lemon cream shield. Purple standards, pink styles. Large flowers on a tall plant. 3ft.  I
-      -  'Rowden Lullaby'.  Pale parma violet falls, longish white signal with deep chrome yellow at the throat. Very delicate to look at. 2 ½ ft. I
-     -  ' Rowden Lyric'.  Dark violet falls veined darker, white signal with violet veining and dark primrose throat. Standards broad and the same violet as the falls. Styles pure white. 2 ½ ft.  I