Iris reticulata var. cyanea By Foster

The Gardeners' Chronicle p.57, January 12, 1884

"Iris reticulata var. cyanea opened its first bloom with me in the open on January 5. The bulbs came from Messrs. Haage & Schmidt. I do not know the origin of the variety, but the flower has all the characters of I. reticulata Krelagei as far as form is concerned ; but the standards are light blue, and the falls dark blue with a slight tinge only of red. I may remark that I. reticulate Krelagei is with me not only earlier than the typical form, but much earlier and actually precedes I. Histrio, generally opening about the same time as Crocus alatavicus, and before Crocus Imperatori. This variety is also much more variable in colour than the typical form, and probably before long we shall have I. reticulata var. alba, which will please the Iridophils". M. Foster, Shelford.

For more information on historic Irises visit the Historic Iris Preservation Society at

-- BobPries - 2014-09-04