Wensleydale

New Iris

We are delighted to be introducing Wensleydale, a brand new exclusive Lavender-Purple Bearded Iris.

This new iris is a welcome addition to our  Award Winning Collection. Firstly this is a highly distinctive and highly unusual lavender-purple bearded iris winning the coveted UK Dykes Medal for iris hybridising in 1988.  Secondly it complements and extends our existing range of outstanding ‘Cools‘. Wensleydale is a mid flowering variety, spanning both early and late varieties.

Named after one of the most popular of the Yorkshire Dales which bears its name. Famed also for the beautiful River Ure, the market town of Hawes and the distinctive Wensleydale cheese.

Special Reserve

This is one of a new batch of Special Reserve Bearded Irises that we are releasing for the first time in 2024. They form part of a new ground-breaking initiative to make small quantities of particularly rare or unusual varieties available to the public. Initially we will offer them  at a premium price in small batches (30’s-50’s), first to our Subscribers. Because of their rarity we expect demand to be strong, and we plan to allocate irises on a first come, first served basis.

Building Your Collection

This exceptional Lavender-Purple Beaded Iris is a bi-tone with lavender standards and deep purple falls, with perfect flower shape and classic ‘Dodsworth ‘branching. It is an important addition to our stylish and versatile ‘Cools’ Collection.

Mixing with other Colours

Our Irises combine clear clean colours, great branching and perfect flower shape to create a ‘Perfect’ Iris.

This Lavender-Purple Bearded Iris is great as a standalone plant. However, consider using it with other ‘Cools’, particularly Jessica Rosalind , the sapphire-blue Kildonan and the deeper blue, almost indigo, Wharfedale.

Alternatively, if Pink is your colour, you can always add one of the early flowering flowering ‘Pinks’ Eileen Louise  before finishing with a late season flourish including Sherwood Pink and Century Pink.

Top Tip

Try Wensleydale with a combination Cools (Jessica Rosalind, Kildonan and Wharfedale) and then add the late flowering ‘Pinks’ (Sherwood Pink and Century Pink) and Grey-White Hen Harrier for a spectacular late flowering display.

Registered in 1985 by Bryan Dodsworth. Tall Bearded Iris 40″ (102 cm). Mid Bloom; lavender-purple bi-tone, Beard purple-grey. Ruffled. Ingleborough X Mystique. UK Dykes Medal 1988.

Special Reserve Prices

Due to rarity and scarcity we are restricting individual orders to three irises. The price is £25.00 each.

£25.00

Due to popular demand, this variety is not currently available. Please email us and we will get back to you when new stock arrives. We are happy to mail you an availability report biennially so that you have the most up to date information.