Clematis
[V]
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Full Description
TB 30″ M B3M
From Rainbow Gardens catalog for 1925: “Unique. Shaped like an exceptionally fine Japanese iris or a large six-petaled Clematis. All six segments of the flower reflect horizontally. Color light clear violet with variable veining at the base. Strong grower, free flowering and fragrant.”
From Bonnewitz Irises catalog for 1926: “S. deep lavender; F. deep lavender-purple with white reticulations at the base. Yellow beard. Strong growing, free flowering and fragrant. This variety has very much the form of the intermediate variety, Dorothea. Although it is an English Iris, it received an Award of Merit at the International Iris Show in Paris three years ago, but I am not altogether sure it deserved this high honor. It does, however, resemble the Clematis after which it is named.”
From Rainbow Iris Gardens Catalog 1958: “Most famous of all flat iris. widely sought, but almost extinct in this country, so I sent all the way to Scotland to get a good supply for you. Variable, but flowers tend strongly to flatten out and many have 6 bearded petals instead of 3. A light violet-blue with bright lilac flush thru center of falls. Very interesting! Usually has viable pollen”.
(Cordelia X Princess Beatrice) , CM SNHF 1922.
Note: After observing this iris for the past several years I have noticed a few habits it has: It tends to put up stalks over a long bloom season, with the blooms that open early in cool weather rarely showing any tendency to being flat and appearing as normal iris flowers (first photo), while those opening late in warmer temps do tend to exhibit the flat form it is famous for (second photo). In between times they tend to sloppiness as the some petals go one way and the rest others (photos 3 & 4). I would call it a ‘broken color’ as well. Grows like a weed. – Mike, WA