By/par Sylvain Ruaud
Our gardens abound in irises coming from the USA and
Australia and soon they will be filled with varieties from Eastern Europe and
even from Russia and Ukraine. I don't know if the world's gardeners know of the
outstanding French varieties, but there is no shortage of them. And the quality
of these French irises is not lacking as is demonstrated by the good results of
the French hybridizers in European competitions in Florence, Munich, and Paris.
I have put together a list of varieties from French
hybridizers. Although this is just a beginning and there are many more fine
irises, this text contains varieties of many different colors and patterns. To
keep the lists simple, I have chosen only twenty irises, mainly recent introductions,
which cover the whole spectrum of colors you can find in France.
Let's start with the white. I propose a variety that
seduced the judges of the competition FRANCIRIS© of 2005, as much for its
perfect whiteness as for its remarkably drawn flowers. It is 'Gwennaden'
(Madoré, 2001) (1). It is not an absolutely newest variety, but it always seems
to me worthy to be included in this anthology.
In yellow I chose 'Macao' (Laporte, 2009) (2). Coming
from the crossing 'Magic Kingdom' X 'Lorenzaccio De Medicis', it is a deep
yellow with brown-scarred sepals, which gives it "peps". Bernard
Laporte has obtained other interesting yellow irises, such as 'Féria de Nîmes'
(2006) for example.
From yellow, let's go to brown. For this color, I
hesitate between two very beautiful irises: the famous 'Lumière d'Automne' (L.
Anfosso (3) for Eric Besse (2009) and 'Tabac Blond' (R. Cayeux, 2006) (4). The
first had a complicated history because it was not registered when it was
placed on the market and it was only after a very strong demand from collectors
that the plant received registration. The second is nevertheless a fine example
of the talent of Richard Cayeux.
Can we switch to orange? In this ungrateful color (in the
irises, I specify) breeders from Britanny stand out clearly. Gérard Madoré
first then Alain Chapelle (5) gave us very beautiful specimens, that's why I
choose 'Baisers Dorés' (Chapelle, 2016), a flamboyant full-fledged orange, from
'Game Plan' X 'Leading Light'. It is a success.
'Terre de Feu' (Cayeux, 1997) is already 20 years old. It
does not detract from its russet, red copper centered blue metallic; a color
that we do not often find in the garden.
In the reds it is necessary to start with the magenta
tone and in this case I succumb to my affection for 'Mamy Framboise' (V. Fur /
B. Laporte, 2004). Not only it is an iris with bright colors, but it is also a
plant without problem, which grows quickly and well.
In a more sustained tone, it is necessary to decide
between the "old" 'Rive Gauche Paris' and its younger 'Bouschet'
(Laporte 2006). 'Rive Gauche' (obtained by Vivette Sazio in 1993) was
registered under the name 'Rive Gauche Paris' by Laure Anfosso in 2012. It is a
little slow to develop, but what color! It is in the pedigree of' Bouschet ',
who inherited his rich clothes, but enjoys a faster growth.
In the numerous purple family, I designate 'Confiserie'
(R. Cayeux, 2016). A little short on stalk, but richly colored, with a slightly
rosy hue, very pleasant. His sibling 'Attirance' (2016), is not bad either, and
looks like a twin!
Mauve is a delicious color, always associated with iris.
One of his champions was Larry Gaulter. One of the most successful people here
is Lawrence Ransom (6). His 'Marie Kalfayan' (1994), with an orange beard that
gives her verve, deserves to be included in this list.
The same contrast between the beard and the rest of the
flower is found in the light blue 'Princess Caroline of Monaco' (R. Cayeux,
1997). It is a plant which, for me, has all the qualities. I am not alone in
thinking like that because it seems that it has received a great welcome all
over the world.
I propose another iris by Richard Cayeux to illustrate
the bright blue color. 'Grand Admiral' (1999). This large and beautiful flower
has proven itself and seems to succeed everywhere. Descending from two of the
most popular blues, 'Memphis Blue' and 'Sapphire Hills', this is a fine example
of the wise use of inbreeding.
During the 18th century the amateurs hybridizers competed
with one another about the black tulip. Today the black iris is almost the same
challenge: nature does not know how to make black flowers naturally. Never
mind, the most successful hybridizers have taken the case to the body and
obtained flowers that now almost reach perfection. Among the recent French
acquisitions, I have spotted two that have their place in this article.
'Penhir' (G. Madoré, unfortunately not registered) and 'Jais Moqueur' (A.
Chapelle, 2016). But Bernard Laporte also had the happy hand with 'Dakar'
(2009), enriched with spurs. Finally, in this difficult color, here we are with
more pretenders than there is room!
Let's finish with the selfs talking about pink irises.
There is plethora! After much hesitation, I selected 'Sensuelle' (Ransom, 1999)
and 'Succès Fou' (Cayeux, 2000). The first shows a hint of orange, but this is
not unpleasant and, like all the Lawrence Ransom varieties, it has an
incomparable class. The second, contemporary of the previous, oscillates
between the pink "flamingo" and the pink "coral". A
delicious flower.
We are now talking about two-colored varieties. Starting
with the many blue amoenas. I cannot decide between several particularly
beautiful flowers: 'Barbe Noire' (R. Cayeux, 2012), 'Domino Noir' (R. Cayeux,
2012), and 'Princesse Laura' (Cancade, 2014) (7). Not only the flowers, with a
sharp contrast, perfectly meet the criteria defining the amoenas, but also the
plants themselves, make them indispensable to the iris garden.
In the amoenas, there are not only the blues, but we must
not forget the roses or the yellows. However, if for the blues, make a choice
was not difficult, the other colors have made my life more difficult. Not too
much for the pink amoenas, category for which I designated 'Chateau d'Auvers
sur Oise' (R. Cayeux, 2003) for its fresh colors where the pure white neighbors
with a tone of pink apricot very sweet, with beautiful ripples. But yes for the
yellows in whom I did not find anything exciting. 'Infusion Tilleul' (R.
Cayeux, 2013) is not exactly on target, 'Cadran Lunaire' (J.C. Jacob, 2012) (8)
will rather be ranked among the distallatas. I fell back on neighboring
varieties, but very pretty: 'Ma Veronique' (R. Cayeux, 2013), where the yellow
dominates, or 'Mireille Sanne' (Boulon, 2016) (9) where it is the white who
takes over leaving yellow only the top of the sepals.
And reverse amoenas? This is not a subject that has
inspired French hybrid breeders in recent years. I have selected two very
successful varieties, which are in my own collection and whose vegetative
qualities and harmony of colors I have been able to appreciate. They are 'Lune
Bleue' (M. Bersillon, 1999) (10) in lavender blue on bluish white, and 'Somni'
(R. Dejoux, 2008) (11), a subtle balance between petals of a very sweet primrose
yellow and sepals very white.
On the side of variegated iris, we do not miss anything!
I choose a very recent variety of a young hybridizer who must go far: Stéphane
Boivin (12). He has made a name for himself at the last two FRANCIRIS©
competitions and each of his flowers is attracting attention. This time I put
forward 'Aime Bay' (2015). Coming from two "must",
"Montmartre" and "Décadence", it is a modern variegata, in
shades of beige and purple.
We return to a Richard Cayeux varieties for the category
of two-color. 'Nelly Tardivier', (2012) has everything to please, especially a
combination of original colors in fashion today. It's a variety that you must
not miss!
The plicatas are part of my favorite irises. There is not
only a purple plicata on a white background which we can say that they are
introduced too often but an infinite number of variations. I prefer to put here
a flower issued from the production of the late Lawrence Ransom, chic and rare:
'Ma Dulcinée' (2015). Impeccably coiffed, stitched, and veined with old lilac
rose (as the official description says), it is a jewel for the garden. In a
model often met in recent times in America, 'Fleur de Feu' (R. Cayeux, 2012) is
not bad either.
Can we ignore the "broken color"? I do not
think so, that's why I selected an original variety that grows well: 'Rose-Linda
Vasquez' (2007) (13), created in the tiny garden of the hybridizer of the same
name. This iris, which pleasantly mixes two shades of blue, is also an iris
with spurs; he thus combines two very popular categories.
Appeared in the early 2000s, the new category called
"distallata" quickly spread in our small world. Everyone wants to
have its own. I thought to put to this catalog the obtaining of the young
Sébastien Cancade 'Martingale' (2014) that the Anfosso family described in its
catalog as "Warm white on purple veined and golden sepals around the
orange beard, wavy and delicately perfumed. I add another version, more
"soft", signed by Jean-Claude Jacob, 'Cadran Lunaire' (2012), but I
do not yet know its horticultural qualities.
Let's end this inventory with the inevitable irises
blue-white-red of the Cayeux's. In the long list of varieties of this kind, I
propose 'Ruban Bleu' (J. Cayeux, 1997), last variety registered by Jean Cayeux, and
admirable cultivar in all points.
Thus ends this collection of French irises, very
representative of what our national hybridizers can offer. With these irises,
you can be sure to build an exceptional iris garden. But do not forget that
this is just a sampling, necessarily biased. There are many other remarkable
varieties obtained in France during the last twenty years! And new hybridizers
appear every year, among who we discover real talents.
(1) Gérard
Madoré was a French customs officer, who hybridized irises for a long time but
who ceased this work now. Another hybridizer, Jean Claude Jacob, took back the
plants and put them on the market.
(2) Bernard
Laporte, during another life, was a postman. Now he is one of the best French
hybridizers and he markets his own varieties.
(3) The
Anfosso family is well known all the world round. During the 80's they
hybridized excellent varieties; after a long interruption, they began again
working with irises.
(4) Who
does not know the Cayeux family? Since the beginning of the twentieth century
they hold a prominent place in the world of irises. Their last representative,
Richard, is one of the best breeders in the world and his varieties are known
everywhere and by all.
(5) Alain
Chapelle has only been interested in irises for about twenty years. His irises, often brightly colored, are very representative of the renewal of
hybridization in France.
(6) Lawrence Ransom died suddenly in 2016, of British origin but settled in France for
about fifty years, is an original irisarian, eclectic, and creative. His irises
are currently on sale by Roland Dejoux, President of French Iris Society.
(7) Sébastien
Cancade is a talented young hybridizer whose varieties are marketed by the
company "Iris en Provence" of the Anfosso family.
(8) Jean
Claude Jacob also worked at La Poste before specializing in the hybridization
of roses and irises of all categories. He markets his varieties himself.
(9) Passionate
about horticulture and particularly by irises, Jérôme Boulon makes crossings
for his pleasure and that of his friends.
(10) Michèle
Bersillon was born in the USA. In France, she hybrids irises of a great delicacy
of which some are on sale at Cayeux, but also at Stout's, in America.
(11) Roland
Dejoux is the current President of the French Society of Irises (SFIB). He
markets his own irises.
(12) Stéphane
Boivin, an accountant, is passionate about iris and practices hybridization
with great success. It is a great hope in this activity.
(13)
In her
very little garden, Rose-Linda Vasquez manages to obtain interesting irises
which she sells herself to a small number of connoisseurs.
Editor's Note: The World of Irises editors have been concerned that the blog reflect irises growing around the world. We would have been pleased to add a new blogger Sylvain Ruaud in any case, but are doubly please to have him writing from France. We look forward to hearing more from him about irises in Europe in future blogs. Sylvain has his own blog in French too. This is an experiment in one way--the text was machine translated and then edited and revised. For those reading the blog, if English is not your first language, we have added the translation feature to the blog. It can be found at the bottom of the left column.
