Butterfly Flower Iris japonica
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Butterfly Flower:
- Phonetic Spelling
- EYE-ris ja-PON-i-ka
- Description
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Japanse iris is an herbaceous perennial rhizomatous plant in the Iridaceae (iris) family. It is an evergreen crested iris from Asia that can be used in the semi-shady woodland garden as a ground cover. It will spread quickly to cover an area. The showy blooms appear in April- May and range from white to pale blue to purple.
It is tolerant of a wide range of soil and pH types and needs good drainage in part shade. This drought-tolerant plant is generally avoided by deer and rabbits.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Iris
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pale blue to purple to white 2-inch flowers with yellow or orange crests blooms April to May. The showy blooms are similar to orchid blooms. It has 2 pairs of petals, 3 large sepals (outer petals), known as the 'falls' and 3 inner, smaller petals
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Sword-shaped green basal leaves are 12-20 inches long. Margins are entire and the leaves are arching. Upper side is somewhat glossy and underside light dull green
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Thin green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
