Could we please have a discussion comparing Romantic Evening, Strut, Wild Wings, Shocker, Velvet Voyage, Dangerous Mood and any other similar bicolors having lavender or orchid up top, and black falls.

How many have you compared in person? Favorites? Vigor/ability to form a good clump? Consistently good bloom form? Candelabra branching? Floriferousness? Definite, bright contrast between standards and falls. Clarity of color.

I have Romantic Evening, and Strut, none of the others. Of the two, RE blooms every year, Strut blooms once in a while, I moved it to a better place, and it still only blooms once in 2 to 3 years. This is in my zone, however, not sure if a warmer zone would make Strut perform better or not.

I ordered Shocker this year. I don't have any others. I'll be interested to hear comments, too.

Laurie, I think that judging from the only two pictures I can find of Shocker, it's a real pretty one! I really like the contrast between the light wysteria lavender standards and the dark velvety falls. I hope it blooms for you next spring, because I'd really like to see and hear more about it.

Daisy, I have Wild Wings, Dangerous Mood and Romantic Evening. While I like the colors on all three. none of them grow well here in SE PA. They each bloom yearly but with very little increase. I have had them for several years so I guess they are doing well enough by staying alive that long.

Pam, that's good information, given that I'm not so very far away from you. Thanks!

So, Pam, tell us the names of some of your most vigorous and favorite cultivars, regardless of whether they are in this color group. Yeah, I know I am breaking my own topic.

Jumping in with comment that Habit bloomed for the first time in several years this year. It was beautiful! Looking forward to how it does 2021.

I like this color combo, too, Daisy and have ordered Shocker this year.

You mentioned clarity of color. I prefer the wisteria blue in the standards, with
a more navy blue on the falls, if possible.

ghio m/l

johnson m/l

: keppel e/m

schreiner e mid

johnson e

schreiner m/l

just did this little exercise, daisy. i was unfamiliar with some of the the cultivars listed and was curious. i don't grow any of them and was hoping to find an early one amongst them.

i was happy to find several on the list. for me, on color and form, is a toss up between 're' and 'ww'. altho' i have 'dm, on a tentative wish list. i have to say they're all beautiful and if i would have to rank on color alone? strut would be 6.

Sharp Dressed Man is an amazing grower and performer here.

have you considered 'midnight seas'? it's a strong performer and increaser for me.
i like this one, too. i 'm pretty sure this is my photo last year for 'naughty nights'
'by jeeves' does really well for me, too, and has an extra bonus of a ring around the outer edge of the falls.

Daphne, thanks for the illustrations!

And here is an illustration of Jan's "Habit."



I do like the lighter wisteria blue standards in contrast with the dark falls. I already have Sharp Dressed Man, which had its maiden bloom for me this year. But as yet it has not wowed me. It needs time to develop in my garden.

Just from the above photos, I'd have to say I'm most partial to RE, WW, Shocker, and Habit. Midnight is a pretty color combo, but I prefer standards that don't tip out at the top, which all the photos for Midnight in the database indicate they do. That's just a personal form preference of mine, along with color clarity.

'Romantic Evening' and 'Sharp Dressed Man' have been very good here too.

I also like 'Visiting Royalty'


And 'Visual Intrigue' has been excellent, and is a reliable rebloomer.

Sherry, I really like that photo of Visiting Royalty. Seems also like everyone likes Romantic Evening!

Romantic Evening really makes a statement in full bloom..

Storm Rider is a good one too...

Storm rider is a good grower here too.

Dark Icon grows well


Matt McNames grows well


Mister Three Wiggle grows pretty good


Think About It grows well


Wicked Good grows pretty good

So many pretty ones!

Strut does no better at blooming for me in the south than it does for Tom up in Wisconsin. Mister Three Wiggle does well though.

I have actually been looking at this type of color combination as well, and had no idea how many there were! I don't see any mention of Black Magic Woman, which is similar to Sharp Dressed Man.