Re: Identification
- To: i*@rt66.com
- Subject: Re: Identification
- From: m*@tricities.net (Mike Lowe)
- Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 20:58:26 -0500
Gunnar,
>From the cork board photo and corroborating evidence, I would give your
white/purple iris an 80% chance of being THORBECKE (Veitch before 1897).
Thorbecke is not known to exist in North America and has not been grown as
such since the 1950s. It was a very popular iris late 1800s/early 1900s but
fell out of favor in the 1930s and disappeared from collectors gardens.
THORBECKE (Veitch before 1897) Color effect a white, velvety prune purple
solid bicolor.
S. clear white, slightly overcast pallid violet. F. velvety prune purple,
reticulated reddish brown on the haft. Beard fine, dense, projecting,
orange colored.
Thorbecke is moderate in growth and has stiff, slender, deep yellow-green
foliage, strongly tinged purple at the base. The blooms are fair sized,
firm in texture, and clear colored. The flower is interesting for its clear
color contrast.
Topsham Road, Exeter, England; was among the most celebrated nurseries in
England. Founded in 1808, it was owned by a succession of Veitchs and dealt
in rare ornamentals. THORBECKE was an exciting development for its time and
was pictured in Vick's magazine in 1888. (Volume 11, pg 382). [Explains the
ambiguity in giving an introduction date.]
R. Wallace & Co. of Colchester, England featured THORBECKE in his catalog
before 1897 and was still offering it in the 1921 catalog. It was described
in the '21 catalog thusly: Thorbecke, very fine white standards, deep rich
velvety purple falls, 2 1/2 feet tall. 9 pence each.
Bertrand Farr of Wyomissing, Pensylvania offered Thorbecke in his 1912
catalog and gave this description: Thorbeck [sic] Rich clear violet-blue
amoena, reticulated white at the base, very handsome. 2 feet. 25 cents
each.
You have a rare and exciting iris!
Best regards,
Mike Lowe, mikelowe@tricities.net
South Central Virginia, USA
pH-5.4 very sandy loam
185 to 205 frost free growing days per year