Iris of the Day: Alcazar. 5.6.19

Bearded Iris "Alcazar".  First Bloom.  5.6.19

Two years ago I moved the clump of "Alcazar" to the edge of the woodlot and left it alone. Last year I noted it was doing quite well.  This was one of the few clumps that kept its label, so I knew what jt was before blooming.

Alcazar was released by the French developer, Vilmorin, in 1910.

From the above link, quoting a Cornell description in 1927, "CORNELL MEMOIR 100 Study of Pogoniris Varieties Austin W.W. Sand July 1926.
Alcazar (Vilmorin, 1910)Color effect light hortense violet, velvety pansy-violet bicolor viened on bronze haft; size large; form long; open, oblong ; flowering habit free ; tall bearded class ; height 32 inches ; branching wide at center or above; A flower of extra substance ; firm texture ; slightly crêped surface ; good fragrance;....
S. Light mauve or hortense violet, shaded deeper in the recesses of creped parts ; carriage cupped, arching ; blade obvate to fiddle-form, notched, undulate, ruffled and frilled, revolute, slightly crêped.... F. Deep velvety pansy-violet, the bronzed wide outer half becoming olive- yellow along the beard, veins ending abruptly with beard ; carriage drooping ; wedge shaped to oblong, slightly convex ; excellent velvety texture ; Minor parts ; beard coarse, dense, projecting, conspicuously broad, orange-coloured..., light violet bronze on the margin ; crest bronzed... Growth vigourous ; increase rapid ; habit open to regular ; foliage stiff, leaves broad, deep glaucous green ; 4 blooms open at once... floriferous ; stalk erect, angular, with 9 or more buds.... awarded a certificate of merit by the National Horticultural Society of France in 1909, and a first-class certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society, London in 1916."

Bearded Iris "Alcazar".  First Bloom.  5.6.19

I edited a little for brevity, but wanted to note that this variety is historically significant, and can't help but quote that "hortense violet" description.  This really is a nice, heirloom iris with a history dating back before WW1.  In fact, during the year that Vilmorin released this iris, my grandfather was in the Philippines participating in the latter stages of the Philippine-American war.

This clump got some of the leaf spot.  I think it's stopped now and will be cleared up and prevented in the future.