TRIAL OF WETLAND IRIS (An RHS Long Term Trial)

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AGM AGM TRIAL OF WETLAND IRIS 2003 2005 (An RHS Long Term Trial) There were 65 entries in this long term trial of Wetland Iris which were assessed by the Joint Iris Committee over three years; 20

Objectives: To assess, compare and demonstrate a range of cultivars submitted by individuals, raisers and nurserymen, after preliminary assessment by the Joint Iris Committee.

1 AGM AGM TRIAL OF WETLAND IRIS (An RHS Long Term Trial) There were 65 entries in this long term trial of Wetland Iris which were assessed by the Joint Iris Committee over three years; 20 cultivars were included in the display of previous AGM winners. Objectives: To assess, compare and demonstrate a range of cultivars submitted by individuals, raisers and nurserymen, after preliminary assessment by the Joint Iris Committee. Judging: Members of the Joint Iris Committee inspected the trial on 25 May and 14, 22 and 28 June 2005, recommending the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to the eight entries listed below. A point system out of 100 was applied as follows: Plant 35 Stem 15 Flower 30 (form=10, substance=10, colour=10) Presentation 20 Record: Date of first and last flowering. The following entries received an Award of Garden Merit: - I. ensata Frilled Enchantment' AGM (H4) 2005 Raised by Marx and sent by Mr N S Payne; available from the sender and Aulden Farm, Aulden, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0JT. A vigorous, spreading plant, foliage lax, green to 80cm by 2cm. Flower stems erect and straight to 78cm, bearing 3 wellproportioned, large flowers. Standards horizontal and slightly cupped, 7.6cm by 5.5cm, ovate and wrinkled, near white N155A, encircled at margin purple-violet N81B suffusing into white ground, signal yellow-green 153B; haft yellow-green N144A. Falls 8.5cm by 7cm, flaring, circular and smooth, with wrinkled margin, near white N155A, margin purple-violet N81B, signal yellow-green 153B; haft white at margin, midrib closest yellow-green N144D. Style branches broad, erect, white 155C, midrib pale yellow 2D, margin purple violet N81C. Crest, fringed, revolute, white 155C, margin purple-violet N81B. Flowering 20 June to 7 July Large, pretty, white flower, with deep purple-violet, frilled margins.

8cm, closest to white N155 at edges, centre closest to white 155A, signal closest to yellowgreen 153C; haft closest to yellow-green 151C. Falls horizontal, circular and wrinkled 8.1cm by 7.

2 I. ensata Alpine Majesty' AGM (H4) 2005 Raised by T J Aitken, sent by and available from The Iris Garden, Yard House, Pilsdon, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5PA. Vigorous, compact plant, foliage erect, green, to 80cm by 1.7cm. Flower stems straight to 64cm bearing 3 well-proportioned large flowers. Standards drooping, circular, wrinkled 7.7cm by 5.8cm, closest to white N155 at edges, centre closest to white 155A, signal closest to yellowgreen 153C; haft closest to yellow-green 151C. Falls horizontal, circular and wrinkled 8.1cm by 7.8cm, closest to white N155A, signal yellow-green 155C; haft closest to yellow-green 151C. Style branches broad and erect, closest to white 155C. Crest large, fringed and revolute, closest white 155C. Flowering 22 June to 15 July Lovely large, warm white flower, with yellow green signal. I. laevigata Regal Surprise' AGM (H4) 2005 Raised by J Ellis and sent by Mrs O Wells, available from Rowden Gardens, Brentor, Nr Tavistock, Devon, PL19 0NG. Vigorous, compact plant, foliage erect, glaucous, to 79cm by 2.3cm, straight flower stems to 68cm bearing to 9 medium flowers. Standards cupped, erect, ovate, smooth, lightly wrinkled at the margin, purple-violet 82C flushed with purple violet N81B, haft pale yellow, veined purple N79B. Falls incurved, ovate, lightly wrinkled, purple-violet N82C at tip darkening to N82A near signal, signal yellow 9A, veined purple-violet 82A; haft yellow 9A at margin fading to pale yellow centre, veined purple N79A. Style branches, broad, erect, pale cream, flushed yellow 8C along midrib. Crest large, fringed, revolute, pale cream flushed yellow 8C. Flowering 23 May to 20 June Striking flower, bold purple-violet falls with bright yellow signal veined purple, very floriferous with up to 9 buds per stem.

Tango Music AGM (H4) 2005 Raised by Dr T Tamberg, sent by Mr C Bartlett and available from Dr T Tamberg. Vigorous spreading plant, foliage lax, green, to 105cm by 2.5 cm, with a deep red base tint.

5cm, violet closest to 86A, signal white veined violet 86A, haft yellow 7D at margin, veined purple N79A, fading to pale yellow centre, veined purple closest 86B.

3 Tango Music AGM (H4) 2005 Raised by Dr T Tamberg, sent by Mr C Bartlett and available from Dr T Tamberg. Vigorous spreading plant, foliage lax, green, to 105cm by 2.5 cm, with a deep red base tint. Flower stems erect, straight to 100cm, each bearing to 5, well proportioned, medium flowers. Standards cupped, erect, spathulate, smooth, violet closest to 86B. Falls, drooping and smooth 7.4cm by 4.5cm, violet closest to 86A, signal white veined violet 86A, haft yellow 7D at margin, veined purple N79A, fading to pale yellow centre, veined purple closest 86B. Style branches broad, erect purpleviolet N81A, mid rib violet 86B. Crest large, fringed, revolute, violet 86B. Flowering 31 May to 23 June Very attractive violet blue flowers, up to 5 flowers per spike. Iris x robusta Dark Aura AGM (H4) 2005 Raiser unknown, sent by Mrs J Hewitt, available from Cotswold Garden Flowers, Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 5EZ and Tinpenny Plants, Tinpenny Farm, Fiddington, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 7BJ. Vigorous, spreading plant, foliage semi-erect, green, to 95cm by 2.5cm, with a purple tinge at the base. Flower stems straight, dark purple to 70cm, bearing 6-8 well proportioned small flowers. Standards 4.6cm by 1.5cm, cupped, erect, ovate, smooth, with lightly wrinkled margin, Violet N87B at tip, deepening to Violet N87A at base, haft green-yellow 1C, veined purple N79B. Falls drooping, ovate, smooth, with lightly wrinkled margin, 6.5cm by 3cm, closest to violet 86A, yellow signal white outer edge, veined violet 86A, haft yellow green 151B, veined purple N79B. Style branches narrow and erect, cream flushed purpleviolet N80B, raised midrib purple violet N82A. Crest large, fringed, revolute, violetblue 90D. Flowering 31 May to 20 June Up to 8 deep violet flowers on near black stems, striking foliage that is dark red in spring, becoming green with purple base.

I.sibcolor Sdg SV4 (subject to naming, registration and availability) Raised by Mrs M Betts, sent by Mr C Bartlett. Vigorous, spreading plant, foliage erect, green, to 98cm by 2.

Standards cupped, erect, spathulate and smooth, wrinkled at margin, light violet blue 94C, haft yellow 9D, veined purple N79B. Falls flaring, circular, lightly wrinkled, 6.5cm by 3.

4 I.sibcolor Sdg SV4 (subject to naming, registration and availability) Raised by Mrs M Betts, sent by Mr C Bartlett. Vigorous, spreading plant, foliage erect, green, to 98cm by 2.2cm, lax at clump margin. Flower stems erect to 76cm, bearing up to 5 well proportioned, medium flowers. Standards cupped, erect, spathulate and smooth, wrinkled at margin, light violet blue 94C, haft yellow 9D, veined purple N79B. Falls flaring, circular, lightly wrinkled, 6.5cm by 3.5cm, light violet blue 94C, darkening to violet N88A at the base, haft yellow veined with purple N79B. Style branches, broad, close on haft, purple violet 82D, delicately overlaid with palest orange. Style branches broad, erect, violet-blue 91B, midrib violet-blue 94C. Crest large, fringed and revolute, violet-blue 94C. Flowering 31 May to 20 June Well-branched, floriferous, plant with elegant hyacinth blue coloured flowers. Mainestream Tempest (subject to availability) Raised by Mrs M Betts, sent by Mr C Bartlett Vigorous, spreading plant, foliage, erect, green to glaucous, 101cm by 2cm. Flower stems erect, straight to 75cm, bearing up to 7 well proportioned medium flowers. Standards 4cm by 2 cm, cupped, erect, spathulate, smooth, closest violet N88C, haft yellow 4C, veined purple N79D. Falls, flaring, ovate, smooth, with lightly wrinkled margin, 5.8cm by 3cm, closest to violet N88C, signal yellow 6B, splashed white at outer edge, veined violet N88C, haft yellow 6B at margin, becoming paler and greener in centre, veined purple N79B. Style branches narrow and erect, flushed violet N78C, particularly at the base, midrib violet N88C. Crest large, fringed, violet N88D. Flowering 31 May to 21 June Very floriferous, with up to eight, pale lavender ruffled flowers per spike.

Mainestream Spring (subject to availability) Raised by Mrs M Betts, sent by Mr C Bartlett. Vigorous, spreading plant, foliage semi-erect, green, to 105cm by 2.2cm.

5 Mainestream Spring (subject to availability) Raised by Mrs M Betts, sent by Mr C Bartlett. Vigorous, spreading plant, foliage semi-erect, green, to 105cm by 2.2cm. Flower stems erect, straight, to 60cm, bearing 5 to 7 wellproportioned medium flowers. Standards cupped, erect, spathulate, smooth, violet-blue 90C, veined violet-blue 90A, haft pale yellow, veined purple N79B. Falls flaring, ovate, smooth, with lightly wrinkled margin, 6.7cm by 3.7cm, closest violet N88B, cream signal, veined violet N88B, haft nearest yellow 6C at margin, becoming paler and more green in centre, veined purple N79B. Style branches broad and erect, closest violet-blue 91B, flushed purple-violet N81B, midrib violet blue 91A. Crest large, fringed, revolute, violet-blue 91A. Flowering 27 May to 21 June Very floriferous, with up to seven attractive blue-violet flowers per spike. H4 = plants hardy throughout the British Isles Photographic records of the AGM winners were made and are kept at Wisley. Trial Notes: - Cultivation: Raised beds were constructed and filled with a mixture of 70% heavy loam, 20% organic matter and 10% grit. The beds were sterilised with Basamid before planting. The trial was planted in October 2002 from either existing or submitted material, new entries were planted in triangular stations, three plants of each, spaced 50cm apart, with 80cm between each entry. Two plants of each were included in the AGM display, which provided standard for reference. Following a soil analysis, a top dressing of Vitax Q4 was applied at a rate of 35 g/m 2 and Strulch (a milled wheat straw mulch) to retain moisture. Surface drip lines irrigated the trial so that the bed never dried out. Each spring the dead foliage of the previous year was removed. Findings It was found that entries to the trial had not performed as well as could be expected, particularly some of the I. ensata. This was thought to be due in part to the requirement of additional irrigation, this is to be addressed during the next trial by the addition of a second irrigation hose on each bed, to enable water flow on both sides of the plants. The ph of the raised beds was recorded at towards the end of the trial, which is on the alkaline side for Wetland Iris cultivation. Contributing factors could be the use of

6 extracted river water (ph recorded at 7.35 Aug 2005, subject to variation as natural source) and the use of double chopped mushroom compost (containing lime), as mulch in the past. Water for irrigating the next trial will be taken from the acid treatment tank on Battleston Hill, which has a PH of 6.9 and Strulch (a much more neutral material) will continue to be used to mulch the trial. In addition to this many plants became crowded in the space available. The trial will have fewer entries to allow for greater spacing and all I. ensata will be planted together to allow for their increased irrigation if demands. Trial Notes: - Cultivation: Raised beds were constructed and filled with a mixture of 70% heavy loam, 20% organic matter and 10% grit. The beds were sterilised with Basamid before planting. The trial was planted in October 2002 from either existing or submitted material, new entries were planted in triangular stations, three plants of each, spaced 50cm apart, with 80cm between each entry. Two plants of each were included in the AGM display, which provided standard for reference. Following a soil analysis, a top dressing of Vitax Q4 was applied at a rate of 35 g/m 2 and Strulch (a milled wheat straw mulch) to retain moisture. Surface drip lines irrigated the trial so that the bed never dried out. Each spring the dead foliage of the previous year was removed. Findings It was found that entries to the trial had not performed as well as could be expected, particularly some of the I. ensata. This was thought to be due in part to the requirement of additional irrigation, this is to be addressed during the next trial by the addition of a second irrigation hose on each bed, to enable water flow on both sides of the plants. The ph of the raised beds was recorded at towards the end of the trial, which is on the alkaline side for Wetland Iris cultivation. Contributing factors could be the use of extracted river water (ph recorded at 7.35 Aug 2005, subject to variation as natural source) and the use of double chopped mushroom compost (containing lime), as mulch in the past. Water for irrigating the next trial will be taken from the acid treatment tank on Battleston Hill, which has a PH of 6.9 and Strulch (a much more neutral material) will continue to be used to mulch the trial. In addition to this many plants became crowded in the space available. The trial will have fewer entries to allow for greater spacing and all I. ensata will be planted together to allow for their increased irrigation if demands. Entries, Senders and Awards: No. AGM AM Cultivar Name Sender AGM Display I. ensata 'Mancunian' Mrs T A Blanco White I. ensata 'Give-me-patience' Mrs T A Blanco White I. ensata 'Katy Mendez' Dr C McEwen I. ensata 'Returning Tide' Dr C McEwen

7 I. ensata 'Continuing Pleasure' Dr C McEwen I. ensata 'Flying Tiger' Dr C McEwen I. ensata 'Magic Opal' Dr C McEwen I. ensata 'Southern Son' Dr C McEwen I. ensata 'Hue and Cry' S Payne I. ensata 'Summer Storm' Wychwood Carp Farm I. ensata 'Imperial Magic' Wychwood Carp Farm I. ensata 'Vintage Festival' Wychwood Carp Farm I. ensata 'Caprician Butterfly' S Payne I. ensata 'Barr Purple East' RHS Wisley I. ensata 'Aldridge Snow Maiden' P E Allery I. ensata 'Aldridge Visitor' P E Allery I. ensata 'Kozasa Gawa' RHS Wisley I. ensata 'Murasame' RHS Wisley I. ensata 'O Kimi San' Miss N K Scopes I. ensata 'Machinusume' RHS Wisley Replants 21 I. ensata 'Aioi' RHS Wisley 22 I. ensata 'Harumado-no-yumi' RHS Wisley 23 I. ensata 'Diomedes' N S Payne 24 I. ensata 'Frilled Enchantment' N S Payne 25 I. ensata 'Tropic Showers' N S Payne 26 I. ensata 'Flashing Koi' N S Payne New entries 27 I. ensata 'Double First' N S Payne 28 I. ensata 'Lorenzaccio' The Iris Garden 29 I. ensata 'Alpine Majesty' The Iris Garden 30 I. ensata Sdg AP-1 Mrs O Wells 31 I. ensata Sdg AP-2 Mrs O Wells 32 I. ensata 'Fractal Blue' The Iris Garden 33 I. versicolor 'Mysterious Monique' Mrs O Wells 34 I.laevigata Richard Greaney' Rowden Gardens 35 'Hokkaido' Mrs T A Blanco White 36 I.laevigata 'Violet Garth' Rowden Gardens 37 'Monique's Daughter' Dr T Tamberg 38 I.laevigata 'Rowden Sonata' Rowden Gardens 39 I.laevigata 'Rowden Cadenza' Rowden Gardens 40 I.laevigata 'Rowden Cantata' Rowden Gardens 41 I.laevigata 'Rowden Concerto' Rowden Gardens 42 I. versata 'Enfant Prodige' S Linnegar 43 I. versata 'Violet Minuet' S Linnegar 44 'Starting Versilaev' (I. versicolor x I. C Bartlett laevigata) 45 I. ensata 'Pinkerton' The Iris Garden 46 I. ensata 'Rivulets of Wine' The Iris Garden 47 I. ensata 'Ack-countable' The Iris Garden 48 I. ensata 'Tideline' The Iris Garden 49 'Seuver Fourses' (I. pseudacorus x I. Mrs T A Blanco White versicolor) 50 I. laevigata 'Regal Surprise' Mrs O Wells 51 I. pseudacorus 'Sun Cascade' S Linnegar 52 'Limbo' (I. pseudacorus x I. versicolor) Mrs T A Blanco White 53 'Holdens Child' (I. pseudacorus x I. Mrs T A Blanco White versicolor) 54 I. ensata 'Freckled Geisha' The Iris Garden 55 I. ensata 'Hegira' The Iris Garden 56 I. ensata 'Crystal Halo' The Iris Garden

8 57 ¾-¼ Tetra-Versilaev Seedling Dr T Tamberg 58 I. ensata 'Sandsation' The Iris Garden 59 I. sibcolor Tango Music C Bartlett 60 I. sibcolor Sdg SV4 C Bartlett 61 I. sibcolor Mainestream Tempest C Bartlett (entered as I. sibcolor Sdg SV5) 62 I. sibcolor Mainestream Spring (entered C Bartlett as I. sibcolor Sdg SV7) 63 'Fourfold Blue' C Bartlett 64 Iris x robusta 'Dark Aura' Mrs J Hewitt 65 'Appointer' C Bartlett Senders Names and Addresses The Iris Garden, Yard House, Pilsdon, Bridport, DT6 5PA Rowden Gardens, Brentor, Nr Tavistock, Devon PL19 0NG Dr T Tamberg, Zimmertrasse 3, Berlin, Germany Wychwood Carp Farm (no longer trading) The following can be contacted c/o The Trials Office: P E Allery, C Bartlett, S Linnegar, N S Payne, Miss N K Scopes, Mrs O Wells H R Jeffs (deceased), C McEwen (deceased) Further information can be obtained from The Trials Office, The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Tel No trials@rhs.org.uk An illustrated copy of this report is available on the RHS Website at

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