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Re: Gerald Darby ?

 

The Royal Horticultural Society awarded an AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
to Gerald Darby in 1993.

Here is the description:

Iris × robusta 'Gerald Darby'

GIF image

 (H4) 1993
Description
Rhizomatous perennial to 1.2m tall, with arching, narrow leaves and purplish stems bearing 3-4 violet-purple flowers, the falls whitish at the base with a yellow flash and dark veins 



Diane




On 5-Dec-10, at 6:11 PM, Polly wrote:
I am not sure how to post pictures in here, so hopefully the links will be OK. If not, I apologize.
We are having a discussion on Cubits about Gerald Darby. I purchased two Gerald Darby quite a few years ago, from two very reputable sources in the US. I received another as a bonus. All bloomed the same, a violet purple.
I posted the pictures on Cubits, and you will see them identified as PollyK. Another lady posted a picture of her Gerald Darby, and you will see her pictures under Clusiana. She is from France, and purchased her Gerald Darby from Cayeux. 

http://cubits.org/irisforum/db/ouririsdatabase/view/4545/

Obviously the two Geralds are not the same.

Searching the internet both irises appear to be represented.
Registrations is as follows. There was the first registration, and then an amended one.
First registration: (Coe for G. Darby, deceased, R. 1968) SIB-LA, 30" (76 cm), June Blue-purple self; twisted red stems. Flowers of Siberian; growth habit of I. foliosa. Orientalis X prob. two LA hybrids. Norton Hall 1967. Amended registration: Blue violet with violet-colored leaf bases. Chromosome count 2n=88-89. Vigorous. Sets few seeds.
My Gerald has obviously dark red purple stems. Clusianas has dark purple stems. Both irises have purple foliage in spring. Hers appears to be quite veined, and I see nothing in the registration to indicate that. Hers also has light standards, mine are darker. Both of our irises bloom at the appropriate time and are the proper height.
Claire Austins picture is more like mine. I think my picture turned out a little darker than my iris atually is. Notice in Ms. Austins picture the standards and styles are about the same color as the falls. Mine are also. Clusianas are much lighter.
http://books.google.com/books?id=jvtRhVQD82MC&pg=PA280&lpg=PA280&dq=claire+austin+gerald+darby&source=bl&ots=ukrq65imjn&sig=bjEXE19D3wdVTw71cK6zidwQvB0&hl=en&ei=W0P8TP_eKIHGlQeh_7GRBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v =onepage&q&f=false
So, now my question (finally), does anyone know for sure what iris the real Gerald Darby is? Can you provide a picture? And no offense, please, but how do you know this is the correct Gerald? 

It is obviously mixed up in commerce at this point.

Thank you for any help you may offer!

Polly @ Siberian Iris Gardens



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