A recent visit to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, coincided with peak bloom of its wonderful collection of Japanese irises (Iris ensata, Zones 3–9). Unlike their more popular cousins, the bearded irises, which are best suited to well-drained soils, Japanese irises grow happily in anything from moist garden soil to shallow standing water. Happiest in acidic soil with lots of fertilizer and full sun, Japanese irises are well worth any effort to make happy as they have some of the largest, most astonishingly beautiful flowers you can grow. They’re an obvious choice for gardens in the southeastern United States, as the climate in that part of the country is very similar to the irises’ native Japan.
Growing in a huge mass like this, Iris ensata ‘Pinstripe’ makes an incredible statement in the garden. It is easy to see where this variety got its name, as each petal is covered with a tidy network of fine, purple lines.
Iris ensata ‘Shei Shonogon’ is a simple Japanese iris, looking much like the species did in the wild before Japanese gardeners started breeding and selecting new and improved forms. It and varieties like it are good choices for a wilder, more naturalistic garden design. View our Japanese Iris plant guide here.
Iris ensata ‘Shei Shonogon’ in the landscape. Japanese irises are natural choices for the edges of ponds, where they get the abundant water they love, and their vertical form and elaborate flowers contrast beautifully with the simplicity of the smooth water.
The huge, pure white flowers of Iris ensata ‘Snowy Hills’ float like clouds over the leaves. Incredibly beautiful in the garden, Japanese irises also make wonderful cut flowers. Can’t you just imagine a big vase full of these white wonders?
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Sigh, wouldn't it be amazing if the brilliant scientists working in the world of horticulture could develop a spray or soil additive that would make such magical blooms last a whole season. If it were to ever happen, I promise, promise, promise that I would not get tired of marveling at such magnificent beauty.
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Comments
Sigh, wouldn't it be amazing if the brilliant scientists working in the world of horticulture could develop a spray or soil additive that would make such magical blooms last a whole season. If it were to ever happen, I promise, promise, promise that I would not get tired of marveling at such magnificent beauty.
What a stunning garden and irises - they must be one of the most beautiful flowers of all!
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