Tall Bearded Iris 'Seafarer'

Awards: Honorable Mention 1949

Because Dave's Garden had no verifiable information on Iris ‘Seafarer’, we wrote to the Historic Iris Preservation Society. Here is ...Read Morethe response from Mike Unser:

"Here's what I have found.

Checklist: Seafarer TB M B1M (Butterick N. [meaning not-introduced - but that is not correct]) R. 1948 (The Admiral X Great Lakes), HM 1949

[From the] Fairmount Gardens catalog for 1956: (Butterick 1949) ML The name suggests the clear blue water of the sea and is most appropriate. All that have seen this iris praise it highly and are impressed not only by the clarity of blue color, but by the perfection of form and sturdy growth. It is a true self, smooth and free from self veining that so often mars the beauty of an iris. The color is clean and pure and more blue than any of the newer blue iris of similar color depth. The standards are firmly domed with no tendency to open at any time. The falls flaring and in excellent proportion so that the flowers structurally present a most pleasing appearance. Smooth firm substanced flowers, fine low branching.

Fairmount introduced alot of Butterick irises, maybe all of them. [Mrs. Nesmith] probably introduced it in 1949 and they failed to notify the registrar. Mrs. Nesmith was known to set a high standard so her description is trustworthy.

I don't know what that iris is at Dave's Garden but it is not Seafarer as registered with AIS. It looks to be something from pre-1900 given the narrow petals and long form. Attached is a photo of Seafarer from the HIPS Slide Library. It was photographed in Mrs. Nesmith's Display Garden (from where it was introduced in '49) during an AIS Convention tour there."

I have seen the photo, and it is definitely a blue Iris, not a purple one, and its beard is also blue, not yellow and white. We are awaiting permission from the Historic Iris Preservation Society to post the photo. Hopefully we will get it soon.

The plant files are wrong on this iris and I don't know how to change them. This blooms very early season. Mid May. It is highly prolific...Read More. It is bright purple, NOT light blue. There is only one known photo of seafarer and the picture is faded hence why people think it's light blue/grey. That pic was taken in the 50's. I just submitted a new picture I took this morning. I'm not sure how long it will take to show up. It's very pretty for an older iris and will fill your garden space quickly. Bright purple with yellow and white beards.

Came from someone who has an old catalog. Hybridized by Butterick 1949.