Iris sibirica Rikugi Sakura

The 'Rikugi Sakura' Siberian Iris is an attractive Japanese variety of Siberian iris that stands out with its large flowers composed of 6 broad pendulous tepals, somewhat like Iris ensata. Its flowers are coloured with pale lavender pink, the base of the tepals and a blend of green and brown. Flowering is in spring, bringing life to architectural foliage that forms a vigorous, slender clump of bright green, remaining beautiful for many months. A plant for moist, sunny banks, this iris adapts well to well-worked garden soil that does not dry out in summer.

The 'Rikugi Sakura' Siberian Iris is a horticultural selection by Ho Shidara introduced to the market in 1988. This award-winning variety received an Honorable Mention in 1992. It is a deciduous rhizomatous perennial: it emerges from the ground in spring and withers in autumn. This iris belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is one of the numerous cultivars obtained mainly from Iris sibirica, native to central Europe, eastern Europe, and Turkey, but absent from Siberia, and Iris sanguinea, found in China, Siberia, Japan, Manchuria, and Korea. The clump will reach about 60cm (24in) in height and spread over 50cm (20in). Its growth is moderate, slower than that of Iris germanica. The foliage consists of long, narrow leaves, bright green, strongly veined. In May-June, the flower stems, 80 to 90cm (32 to 35in) tall, project above the foliage with 6 identical petals called tepals. Each one measures up to 10cm (4in) in diameter. The solitary flowers succeed each other from the top of the stem to the lower branches, for 3 weeks. They are delicately tinted with pale pink with mauve reflections, marked with greenish-brown towards the throat. This iris spreads through rhizomes.

The 'Rikugi Sakura' Siberian Iris requires nearly the same growing conditions as the Japanese iris (Iris ensata). It likes rich, moist, slightly acidic soils and it tolerates the sun, but its flowers will last longer in partial shade. It is not afraid of cold or humidity, but just like its Japanese cousin, its rootstock does not appreciate being submerged in water during winter. Plant it either on the edge of a pond, but not too close to the flood zone, or in a consistently moist to wet flowerbed, even in summer. The Rikugi Sakura Siberian Iris pairs well with astilbes, blue hostas, 'Apple Blossom' Japanese primroses, masterworts, etc.