Hybridizer Kelway and Son, Ltd.

Somerset, England

James Kelway of Langport 1890

The Kelway nursery was established in 1851 by James Kelway (the elder, 1815-1899). He was followed by his son William (1839-1933) and grandson James (the younger, 1871-1952). They had always grown some iris (along with Peonies, Gladiolus, Delphiniums and other plants). After WWII, Iris growing stepped up a gear, when they bought the iris collection from the Award Iris Nurseries, of Barnet, Herefordshire. Their first iris catalogue was issued in 1950 (or 1948?), with Iris being a major feature of their production and Chelsea Flower Show exhibits from then onwards.

In 1933 after a decline in finances, the nursery was bought out by a syndicate with John Owen Lloyd as managing director. James Kelway the younger was retained as manager but Kelway family involvement finally came to an end in 1952 when James the younger died.

The 'Langport' series of intermedite bearded Iris were bred by John Owen Lloyd between (1962?) 1968 and the early 1970's. Most of them were never registered. A few further varieties were bred later by Cy Bartlett in the 1990's to early 2000's

John Owen Lloyd's son, another John, joined the firm in 1958 with him buying the firm from his father in 1974. After several subsequent changes in fortune and ownership, the nursery stopped growing Iris in more recent years.

More detials about the nursery can be read in the book "Kelway's Glorious" by Janet Seaton 2011 ISBN 978-1-9044966-07-6, from which the above summary has been gleaned.

Registrations/Introductions:

Border Bearded: 'Melody Fair', 'Minstrel'.

Intermediate Bearded: 'Langport Admiral', 'Langport Beauty', 'Langport Belle', 'Langport Carnival', 'Langport Chapter', 'Langport Cherub', 'Langport Chief', 'Langport Chimes', 'Langport Claret', 'Langport Curlew', 'Langport Duchess', 'Langport Dragon', 'Langport Fairy', 'Langport Finch', 'Langport Flame', 'Langport Flash', 'Langport Fortune', 'Langport Girl', 'Langport Glory', 'Langport Gold', 'Langport Haze', 'Langport Honey', 'Langport Hope', 'Langport Jane', 'Langport Judy', 'Langport Knight', 'Langport Lady', 'Langport Lord', 'Langport Magic', 'Langport Maid', 'Langport Midnight', 'Langport Minstrel', 'Langport Myth', 'Langport Pagan', 'Langport Pansy', 'Langport Pearl', 'Langport Phoebe', 'Langport Phoenix (bred by Cy Bartlett 1997), 'Langport Pinnacle', 'Langport Pleasure', 'Langport Pride', 'Langport Prince', 'Langport Queen', Langport Robe', 'Langport Robin', ' 'Langport Romance', 'Langport Smoke', 'Langport Snow', 'Langport Song', 'Langport Star', 'Langport Storm', 'Langport Sultan', 'Langport Sun', 'Langport Sunbeam', 'Langport Sylvia' (bred by Cy Bartlett 1998), 'Langport Tartan', 'Langport Vale', 'Langport Violet', 'Langport Vista', 'Langport Warrior', 'Langport Wren', 'Melody Fair'.

Japanese: 'Kuma-Funjin', 'Shishi-Ikare', 'Sofu-No-Koi'.

Miniature Dwarf Bearded: 'Butterfly'.

Siberian: 'Florence Butler'.

Tall Bearded (A-L): 'Acantha', 'Amadin', 'Antarctic', 'Arctic Pearl', 'Arctic Star', 'Ardent Knight', 'Ardenta', 'Athlone', 'Belle Vue', 'Black Ink', 'Blue Admiral', 'Blue Cameo', 'Blue Dragon', 'Blue Duchess', 'Blue Finch', 'Blue Fox', 'Blue Goddess', 'Blue Legend', 'Blue Pansy', 'Blue Rhapsody', 'Blue Robe', 'Blue Smoke', 'Blue Sovereign', 'Bolivia', 'Bow Bells', 'Bronze Bird', 'Bronze Cloud', 'Bronze Penny', 'Brown Trout', 'Cambridge Blue', 'Canary Bird', 'Celosia', 'Choral Plume', 'Chorus Girl', 'Copper Cable', 'Dame Judy', 'Dante', 'Dark David', 'Dark Lady', 'Desert Storm', 'Earl Marshal', 'Elizabeth Arden', 'Fiery Song', 'First Light', 'Forrest Hills', 'Gay Ballard', 'Genoveve', 'Glory Of June', 'Gold Lion', 'Golden Flush', 'Golden Planet', 'Golden Veil', 'Green Ice', 'Grey Magic', 'Gypsy Love', 'Harvest Gold', 'Hi Lady', 'High Veldt', 'Honey Girl', 'Honeydew', 'Imperial Lady', 'Indian Twilight', 'Irish Cloud', 'Jubilee Gem', 'Jules Perot', 'Jules Verne', 'Kandy', 'King Cole', 'Kitty', 'Knight Valiant',

Tall Bearded (L-Z): 'Lady River', 'Langport Seramis' (bred by Cy Bartlett 2004)', 'Lilac Dream', 'London Cry', 'Lovely Tara', 'Luna Prince', 'Mabel Violet', 'Magic Beauty', 'Magic Hills', 'Midsummer', 'Miner's Lamp', 'Miracle World', 'Misty Night', 'Moon Duster', 'My Mary', 'My Smoky', 'Nordic Jewel', 'Orchardist', 'Oscar', 'Ostara', 'Painted Warrior', 'Pearl Diver', 'Persian Romance', 'Phosphornia', 'Pink Gin', 'Polar Ice', 'Powder Pink', 'Prairie Maiden', 'Prairie Rambler', 'Prince Tudor', 'Purple Heron', 'Purple Song', 'Purple Toga', 'Queen's Copper', 'Queen Tonga', 'Ringleader', 'Rock Honey', 'Rockhaven', 'Roistar', 'Roma', 'Royal Moon', 'Ruby Gem', 'Rustam', 'Smokey Dream', 'Summer Pearl', 'Sweet Seventeen', 'Torchlight', 'True Cavalier', 'Tudor King', 'Tudor Treasure', 'Tuscar Rock', 'Violet Girl', 'Wonderlight', 'Yellow Hercules',

-- BobPries - 2012-05-18