Iris ensata ‘Laughing Lion’ Japanese Iris Among the biggest flowers of all Irises, the ensatas come in a wealth of colors and are “flat-topped”. ‘Laughing Lion’ is 6-petaled (considered a double) and purple with creamy little streaks or speckles throughout. Flower height is 30-32" with blooms appearing in June and July at the top of the sword-like foliage. Moist acidic soil is important for best flowering. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris ensata ‘Velvet Queen’ Japanese Iris Tolerating swampy conditions, Japanese Iris will also do fine in normal garden soils as long as they are watered during our droughty periods. They are intolerant of wet soil after the growing season, however. Magnificent large deep, dark blue 3-petaled flowers grace ‘Velvet Queen’ in June and July at 30"-32". Ensatas are heavy feeders that benefit from fertilization and even moisture. Try them with Alchemilla mollis, Astilbes, and Geraniums. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris ensata ‘White Ladies’ Japanese Iris It is difficult not to consider Japanese Iris the most elegant of all Irises. ‘White Ladies’ glows with pure white double (6-petal) blooms floating at the top of sword-like foliage in June and July on 30"-32" stems. It prefers moist acidic soil to perform best. Expect butterflies as well! Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris ensata ‘Variegata’ Variegated Japanese Iris Striking leaf blades at 30" have a creamy white edge and rich blue-violet 3-petal flowers in June and July. Worth growing just for the foliage, the flowers complement the bright, variegated foliage. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 5–9 full sun to part shade Iris louisiana ‘Black Gamecock’ Louisiana Iris or True Water Iris Born of the bayous of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast where moist soil is a given, the Louisiana Iris loves water. The green strap-like foliage and June flowers will handle our hottest Maryland summer temperatures easily. ‘Black Gamecock’ has deep purple, almost black flowers. A prolific grower, it is not invasive. It is a short one at 24". Despite the foliage similarities, try it with the golden yellow of ‘Stella d’Oro’ Daylilies for a striking complementary color combination. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 5–9 Full sun to part shade Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag Iris A big, vigorous, 36" native plant with beardless bright yellow flowers in May and June above thick, slightly bluish foliage. The Yellow Flag Iris is happy in standing water or in the middle of the border and never needs dividing due to its vigorous rhizomes. It will also thrive in part shade. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 5–9 full sun to part shade Iris sibirica ‘Butter and Sugar’ Siberian Iris Bright butter-yellow and white are the colors that float on the top of the 28" stems of this bright beardless Siberian Iris in late May and June. Viewed from a distance in the late spring twilight, ‘Butter and Sugar’ seems to glow with light. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian Iris Deep blue-violet is simply gorgeous on this most rugged and easy-to-grow 36" beardless Siberian Iris. It flowers in June, has deep roots making it somewhat drought-resistant, and is great for holding a steep bank in place. As each clump becomes bigger over time, weeds are literally crowded out. It will easily tolerate a bit of shade in the heat of summer. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris sibirica ‘Eric the Red’ Siberian Iris A maroon-purple color, this Siberian Iris reaches about 24" in June. Try it massed with other of our Siberian Iris colors for a lovely blend. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris sibirica ‘Royal Blue’ Siberian Iris True blue is the color of this velvety beardless Siberian Iris flower held above the 24" leaves in June. After blooming, the erect grassy leaves are a graceful garden accent shimmering in the breeze. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris sibirica ‘Snow Queen’ Siberian Iris Pure white characterizes this 30" beardless Siberian Iris. Relatively pest-free and easy to grow, the June flowers are medium-sized about 18" above the slender green leaves. Performs best in rich, moist soil, but will tolerate dry soil and part shade. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade Iris versicolor Blue Flag Iris or Wild Iris Surprisingly underused, native versicolor Iris is similar to I. pseudacorus in height, growing habits, and preferences for moist soils, but instead of yellow, the color is a reddish or bluish purple. Adaptable to many climates, it blooms in May–June at 24–30", and handles part shade. Plant 18 inches apart Zone 4–9 full sun to part shade
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