Iris ensata Gusto - Japanese Water Iris

The 'Gusto' Japanese Iris has 15cm (6in) diameter flowers, white, widely striped with pastel blue on the periphery. They bloom in late summer at 80cm (32in) in height for 3 good weeks between June and July.

The better-known Iris ensata are the name of Japanese Iris which are very different from our classic garden irises. They live in full sun or partial shade, in moist to wet soils. The 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) diameter flowers are composed of 3 large flat sepals surmounted by 3 finer petals.

Often cultivated on the banks of ponds and basins, Iris ensata, like many marsh plants, can live with their "feet" in the water during the summer but do not tolerate being submerged during the winter, especially if it is freezing. Plant them in heavy soil forming a slight depression, at the bottom of a slope or on a bank where the soil becomes humid by capillarity.

Grow Iris ensata in moist soil with Astilbes, royal ferns, loosestrifes, and Ligularias.