Red Emperor
I have always had a really tough time distinguishing between Red
Emperor and what is rumored to be his child, Helen Astor. I grow R.E.
obtained from three different sources and had two starts of H.A. and
there is little to distinguish between them. The photo of Red Emperor
on the website is one in which I see the greatest difference that I
have ever witnessed between the two cultivars. (Same comment for
Helen Astor)
However, I was browsing through a stack of old catalogs in search of
descriptions to use for pre-49, pre-39 irises when I encountered a
shocker, concerning Red Emperor.
I quote from the 'Indian Spring Farms, Inc.' Baldwinsville, New York
catalog of 1928:
Red Emperor (Cleveland[sic]). A distinct and beautiful variety that
attracts attention in any planting. S. wine red, always with a little
blue on the edge; F. one edge blue and the other wine red, heavily
veined blue all over; haft chocolate brown. An odd and patchy color
design. Large flowers on a plant of medium height. 24 to 30 inches.
I have (nearly) always made the a comment when photographing Red
Emperor and I will quote: "Damn! Look at that! The flower is going
away, one edge is withering."
But -- when I go back and look at the website photo in light of what
was quoted in the catalog above I am not so sure it was withering
that I was seeing. I can easily persuade myself that I am seeing
something that could be called "a blue edge."
Spelunking in moldy old catalogs can sometimes be entertaining!
Mike
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