1921, A New Iris to Which We Take Exception (Iris 'Clematis)

The Garden p.275, June 14, 1921

A New Iris to which we take exception, — The Bearded Irises of June have an old-world charm, and so long as this is preserved we have no fault to find with the hybridists, but there is a tendency on the part of some hybridists to develop the size of the flowers at the expense of grace and form. There is one new variety to which we take exception — it is named Clematis — in which the standards of the flower open out like the falls or lower petals. The flowers appear like those of a large six-petal Clematis. All six segments of the flower reflex horizontally. But why turn half a flower inside out? And why produce a beard on petals on which there should be no beard? Does not the Iris owe much of its charm to its beautiful curves and natural outline of its flowers?

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

-- BobPries - 2014-10-07