Variegated Japanese Iris is a marginal deciduous perennial with a clumping habit. The long variegated light green and cream sword-like foliage fan upwards. Sturdy stalks that grow from the center of the plant are topped by dark violet flowers with a yellow layered center in summer, attracting bees. Grows best in rich, slightly acidic, moist to wet water-retentive soils.
Type: |
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Origins: |
SE Siberia and East Asia |
Height: |
1' - 2' |
Spread: |
1' - 2' |
Spacing: |
1.5’ |
USDA Hardiness Zone: |
4 - 8 |
Culture: |
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Bloom Color: |
Purple |
Season of Interest: |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Medium Maintenance. Water regularly, then occasionally once established. Can cut back any dying foliage after flowering. In winter, it is intolerant of wet or boggy soils- the roots may rot- move to dryer ground for fall and winter.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Water Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Naturalized Areas, Foundation Plantings, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Sedge, Turtlehead, Joe Pye Weed
Image: Photo by David J. Stang, Iris ensata Variegata 0zz, CC BY-SA 4.0