JAPANESE IRIS CULTURE
John Coble and Bob Bauer
the plants and produce miniature
blooms. An abundance of water
and manure can produce 4 - 5 foot
tall bloomstalks! Depending on
your soil and climate, 1 - 2 inches
of water and/or rain per week is
required. Older clumps form dense
root systems and will need more
water than new divisions. But
Japanese iris are not water plants.
They should not be planted in the
water where the water freezes over
in the winter. Beside a stream or
pond can be ideal where the roots
can always reach moist soil with
water borne nutrients.
JI prefer a rich soil with ample
organic matter to help in water
retention as well as adding nutri-ents
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and some aeration. The soil
pH should be slightly acid, 5.0
to 6.5. Peat moss will help lower
Japanese iris (Iris ensata)
produce some of the largest iris
blooms at 6 - 8 inches in diameter
on 3 - 4 foot branched stalks when
grown properly. They bloom
about a month after the Tall
Bearded iris in USDA Zones 4-9.
They grow best in an organic-rich,
slightly acid soil that can be kept
damp-to-moist year round. Mulch-ing,
2 - 3 inches, is also recom-mended
year round. Six hours of
full sun is needed for good bloom.
No other iris is influenced to as
great a degree by culture as are the
Japanese iris. Good culture will
increase height, branching, flower
size, and quantity and quality of
bloom. No other factor will be a
greater influence than the amount
of water and its quality (pH and/or
salts). A lack of moisture will stunt