Japanese Iris 'Variegata'
Japanese Iris 'Variegata'
Japanese Iris 'Variegata'

Multi Buy

Size Guide
5.5
5.5" Perennial
3 or more $14.00 ea
Regularly: $14.99 ea

Japanese Iris 'Variegata'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$14.99
Title

Introduce an element of high-contrast, structural artistry to your garden spaces with this breathtakingly elegant variegated masterpiece. Even before the flowers arrive, this plant commands attention with its magnificent, upright fountain of wide, sword-shaped leaves that are boldly striped with clean ivory-white and rich emerald green. Rising majestically above this stunning architectural foliage are immense, flattened blossoms that resemble exquisite saucers of fine watercolour silk. The massive petals show off a velvety, deep royal purple palette highlighted by a glowing, neon-yellow flash at the center of each throat. It creates a striking, multi-dimensional look that brings sophisticated structure, light, and pure oriental elegance to any sun-drenched or water-heavy spot.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

24-36" H x 18-24" W

Zone:

4-9

Watering:

High

Type:

Herbaceous Perennial

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Variegated Japanese Water Iris, Variegated Japanese Iris, Sword-Leaved Iris

Scientific Name:

Iris ensata 'Variegata'

Type:

Thriller / Variegated Aquatic / Wetland Ornamental Perennial

Growth Details:

Mature Size: Height of 60–90 cm (24–36 inches) x Width of 45–60 cm (18–24 inches).

Growth Habit: Upright, clumping, and slowly spreading.

Form: Erect, fan-shaped architectural clump with arching outer leaves.

Growth Rate: Medium; steadily expands into a robust, dense colony over a couple of seasons.

Flowering: Highly prolific; features large, flat-formed flowers measuring up to 6 inches across.

Flowering Time: Early to mid-summer (blooms slightly later than Siberian Irises).

Flower Colour: Deep royal purple with a bright, contrasting canary-yellow signal flash.

Environmental Needs:

Exposure: Full sun (minimum of 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily). Will tolerate very light afternoon shade in searingly hot climates.

Soil Preferences: Thrives in deep, rich, organic, humic, and wet soils. Demands a strictly acidic pH (\(5.0 - 6.0\)).

Soil Tolerance: Excellent tolerance for heavy clay, muck, and saturated organic soils. Completely intolerant of alkaline soils or lime, which causes the foliage to turn yellow and fail.

Watering: High. Requires regular deep soaking if not planted directly in a pond margin or boggy depression.

Container Role: Acts as an outstanding, structural Thriller in patio water features, aquatic bowls, or damp planters.

Special Features:

Disease Resistances: Exceptionally robust and virtually untroubled by common terrestrial fungal diseases when grown in wet, acidic conditions.

Native Species: Derived from species native to the wet meadows and wetlands of Japan, China, and eastern Russia.

Fast Growing: Swiftly pushes up a dense wall of bright, striped foliage every spring.

Attracts: Frequently draws in butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds.

Uses: Shoreline stabilization, rain gardens, naturalized water margins, and structural aquatic planters.

Resistance: Notably resistant to deer, rabbits, and juglone (completely immune to black walnut toxicity).
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

Bloom Information: Features uniquely flat, saucer-like flag blossoms with high, dramatic showiness.

Fall Colour: No notable fall colour change; the striped green and white leaves hold their variegation well into autumn before dying back for winter.

Garden Value:

Ornamental Interest: Delivers exceptional multi-season texture through its brightly striped ivory foliage fans and immense, flat-topped royal purple blossoms.

Landscaping Uses: Perfect for pond edges, water gardens, stream margins, rain gardens, bioswales, and low-lying drainage areas.

Garden/Landscape Benefits: Provides a powerful architectural element to brighten up low spots, filters runoff water, and controls soil erosion along shoreline edges.

Wildlife & Human Value:

Wildlife Value: Highly valuable for wetland ecology, providing structural shelter for local amphibians and a reliable nectar stop for summer pollinators.

Human Value: The absolute premier choice for adding bright, architectural illumination to wet areas. It gives home water features a sophisticated, high-end "Japanese Zen garden" aesthetic while solving the problem of heavy clay drainage spots.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Best Time To Plant: Early spring or early autumn when temperatures are cool and natural moisture levels are high.

Spacing: Space 45–60 cm (18–24 inches) apart from the center to allow the root crowns plenty of room to expand.

Location Tips: Plant directly into mud at the edge of a pond, or submerge the container up to 10 cm (4 inches) deep in water during the summer. Note: Unlike other water irises, Japanese Iris prefers to be kept damp but NOT submerged in standing water during its winter dormancy.

Companion Plants: Pairs beautifully with Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold), blue-leaved Hostas, and native ferns.

Care:

Light Requirements: Requires full sun to maintain the crisp variegation of the foliage and ensure heavy, large-scale bud formation.

Moisture Requirements: Demands high moisture during the spring and summer growing season. Soil must be kept consistently wet; it thrives in boggy conditions.

Maintenance: Low maintenance. Snip away spent flower stems at the base after blooming concludes. Cut the entire foliage mound down to the ground in late autumn after a heavy frost.

Fertilization: Heavy feeder. Apply a generous layer of rich organic compost or a high-nitrogen fertilizer in early spring, and feed again just before blooming to maximize flower size.

Tolerances:

Wet soil and temporary flooding tolerant, Heavy clay soil tolerant, Black walnut tree tolerant (resists juglone), Cold and deep frost tolerant, Deer and rabbit resistant

Tips For Success:

Thinning/Pinching: Divide large crowded clumps every 3–4 years in late summer after flowering to maintain high bloom vigour and refresh the soil.

Support/Staking: Completely unnecessary; the strong, fibrous stems are engineered to remain perfectly rigid against wind and water movement.

Mulching: Apply a thick layer of organic leaf mold, peat moss, or compost around the base to preserve critical moisture if planting in standard garden borders.

Winter Protection: Clean away all dead foliage in late autumn to prevent pests from overwintering in the crown. Ensure the soil drains well in winter to prevent the crown from freezing in solid ice blocks.
Fruit Profile