Scientific Name:
Iris ensata
Pronunciation:
EYE-riss en-SAY-tuh
Common Name:
Japanese water iris
Family Name:
Iridaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves long, narrow; flowers with 3 large flat, spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich
Water Use:
Aquatic
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Perennial border, Summer interest, Waterside planting
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include
I. 'Lavender Wash',
E. 'Lion King',
I. 'Shinonome',
I. 'Tsuyu-No-Gyokusho',
I. 'Variegata',
I. 'Velvety Queen', and
I. 'Wine Ruffles'.
Hybrids include the "soft pink selection".
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Elliptic, Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Ligulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Purple (Cultivar petal colours include white, blue, pink, etc.)
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Like most irises found locally, this is a single flower with one inferior ovary but the stigmas are petal-like to make it appear as three separate flowers.
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts
Pest Susceptibility:
Slugs or snails, Thrips (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
