Iris ensata Lady in Waiting - Japanese Water Iris

Iris ensata, better known as the Japanese Iris, has nothing in common with our classic garden irises. They thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist to wet soil. The flowers, measuring 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) in diameter, are composed of 3 large flattened sepals topped with 3 thinner petals. There are numerous cultivars with pink, purple, blue, white flowers... some of which have sepals that are occasionally striped or speckled with black, blue or violet.

Often grown on the banks of ponds and basins, Iris ensata, like many marsh plants, can tolerate having their "feet" in water during the summer, but they don't handle being submerged during the winter, especially if it's freezing. Plant them in heavy soil forming a slight depression, at the bottom of a slope or on a bank where the soil becomes moist through capillary action.

The 'Lady in Waiting' variety has flowers measuring 15cm (6in) in diameter, very pale pink almost white, with a border of mauve-pink undulations. They bloom in late summer at a height of 90cm (35in) for 3 good weeks between June and July.

Grow this variety in moist soil alongside Anemone rivularis, Astilbes, Lysimachias and Ligularias.