| Although many flowers are red-violet, several types of | | | | planted from October to March. However, Japanese |
| Japanese Iris exhibit the color in a most spectacular | | | | Iris grown from seed are smaller but bloom with |
| fashion. | | | | exquisitely elegant flowers. |
| Japanese Iris (I.ensata) are the last of the Iris to bloom | | | | The Japanese Iris is an extremely beautiful waterside |
| and usually bloom about a month after Bearded and | | | | plant that exhibits breath-taking reflections when |
| Siberian Iris have finished. Japanese Iris are a beardless | | | | placed near water’s edge, During summer, |
| iris that bear the largest flowers of all. Spikes that | | | | many gardeners pot Japanese Iris and place them at |
| reach up to three feet tall carry blooms in unique | | | | ponds edge or in shallow tubs of water. However, in |
| shapes, colors (including the most brilliant red-violets), | | | | winter pots need to be removed from standing water |
| and striking patterns that measure as much as one | | | | to keep rhizomes from rotting. When planting |
| foot in diameter. Broad foliage with a raised mid-rib | | | | Japanese Iris in a perennial garden, mulch helps retain |
| makes a vertically interesting backdrop for other plants | | | | the abundant moisture they love as well as controlling |
| when the Japanese Iris has finished blooming. | | | | weeds. |
| The Japanese Iris is native to much of eastern Asia | | | | Japanese Iris do best in acidic soil in full sun to part |
| and has been cultivated in Japan for over 200 years. | | | | shade. Rhizomes are typically planted 2-inches deep |
| Single blooming varieties have three standards and | | | | and 18 inches apart. Plants should be lifted and divided |
| three falls, doubles have six falls and peony-type | | | | every three to four years, either after flowering is |
| blossoms are downward sloping with nine or more | | | | finished or in the fall. |
| falls. Cultivars with red-violet flowers include the | | | | Although the Japanese Iris is beautiful in all its variations, |
| Royal Banner, the Velvety Queen, and the | | | | the unusual patterns and shapes of the red-violet |
| spectacular, dark red-violet Laughing Lion. | | | | cultivars add distinction to any perennial garden. |
| Hardy in zones four through nine, rhizomes can be | | | | |