Large or very large, deep violet flowers with a crimson or purple bar. Sometimes flowers semi-double. Reddish-purple stamens.

This cultivar has been regularly confused with 'Elsa Späth' (and sometimes with 'Mrs P B Truax'), indeed some modern catalogues list 'Xerxes' as a synonym of 'Elsa Späth'. Christopher Lloyd was of the opinion that the true 'Xerxes' no longer existed in cultivation, although the International Register and Checklist 2002 suggests otherwise. The photograph from Joan Beers shows a plant bought from 'Hortico' as 'Xerxes' in 2005.

Group: Early large-flowered group
Approximate height: 2.0 - 3.0 metres
Flowering period(s): Jun Jul Aug Sep
Pruning: Light prune (Group 2)
Raised by: Charles Noble
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Date raised: i1877
Parentage: 'Fortunei' x 'Jackmanii'
Other name(s): Wrongly: 'Elsa Späth' - see text

Further detail:

Flower diameter: 14-23cm
Tepals: 6-12; overlapping
Leaves: ternate or pinnate

People:  Click the name(s) for information about:

Charles Noble