Helen Collingwood K. Smith, 1949 TB 40" ML From Edenwald Gardens catalog for 1952: "Light lavender standards, brilliant violet-purple falls. An entirely different and truly brilliant neglecta." From Cooley's Gardens catalog for 1955: "A very brilliant Iris in the neglecta class. Standards are light lavender, the falls bright violet-purple ... a decided contrast. Stalks are 40 inches tall, sturdy and vigorous." From Lyon's Irisland catalog for 1955: "This neglecta is attractive in its color combination. The standards are light lavender, while the falls are a brilliant red-purple. Profuse bloomer."

© MU

From Syllmar Gardens catalog for 1956: "A most unusual and brilliant neglecta with light lavender standards broad and firmly held, and flaring, bright violet-purple falls. The blooms are of heavy substance and daintily ruffled at the edges. Well branched and vigorous. A fine iris." From Schreiner's Iris Lover's catalog for 1958: "Brilliant and vivid in pattern this two-toned, cheerful Iris possesses light lavender standards and bright violet-purple falls which contrasts strikingly. The standards are actually sparkling and the bloom has great charm and freshness of coloring." (Extravaganza x Louise Blake), HM 1950, AM 1952. Notes: Because of its vigorous nature Helen Collingwood is one of those irises often showing up in collections of noids. Fortunately it has a couple of very distinct points that help to easily ID it. The standards are just about as pale as you can get without being pure white. The style crest is brushed with a lighter shade of the same purple as the falls. The hafts have thumbprints on each side that are distinctly redder than the rest of the fall. There's a reason it is always described as unusual, distinct and different - there's nothing else like it.