MRS VALERIE WEST (1925)

TB-M-S7D

Bruno x ?

Haarlem AM 1930 Haarlem FCC 1932 RHS FCC 1933

First Class Certificate: Class b (c) (2). Has been settled for some years in its position as one of the very best. Large flowers – standards bronze shot with lavender; falls deep velvety maroon purple. Good stem (3½’ [107cm]) good shape, stout substance, well branched, free flowering. If it has a fault it is a susceptibility to rhizome rot. (iris trials at Wisley BIS Yearbook 1933 p18)

 

 

An Improved Bruno. Flowers enormous with broad mauve standards, bronze shot with lavender. Falls of great size and substance, very broad and strong, deep velvety maroon purple, of particularly rich tone. Stems are exceptionally well branched, giving a candelabra effect. 30"[75cm]: (Wallace 1929)

 

The difference with Bruno appears to be more 'substance' and no fading to the edge of the falls.

 

AIS Bulletin 1929

 

A superb spike of this beautiful iris was in fine form here and was unforgettable. Mr Beauchamp and I were filled with admiration for, in spite of the enormous size of the flowers, this iris has an exquisite finish, refinement and smoothness of texture which is quite unequalled among the best of the modern irises. (Olive Murrell: Seen at Mr AJ Bliss’ at Morwellham. 1929)

An interesting colour-break!