Cascade Spice Japanese Iris

Japanese Iris are remarkable plants – real show-stoppers, yet not so widely planted as they should be. With their tall, grass-like foliage they are perfect as an accent plant when not in flower, and their amazing blooms will blow you away. Quite unlike the more well-known bearded iris, the flowers are horizontal, and seem to float on air. The Cascade Spice Japanese Iris is an outstanding choice, with white flowers, but broadly edged in a network of blue, and with three spicy-yellow stripes at the throat. Just how large depends on growing conditions, but 6 inches in diameter is easy, and they could be quite a bit bigger. The beauty looks almost unreal, but you aren’t dreaming, it’s real. A great plant for perennial gardens, the leaves stand vertically to about 2 feet tall, and the flower spikes rise above the leaves to be 3 feet. Grow it alone beside a pond, or with a fern at its base in a Japanese-style garden, or in profusion beside a pond or stream. To see it is to fall in love forever.

• Stunning, very large blooms with gorgeous blue and white patterning
• Striking vertical-accent foliage looks great when not in flower
• An obvious choice for a Japanese-themed garden
• Cold-hardy and fine in heat and humidity as well
• Excellent beside water, or in moist regular garden conditions

A spot in full sun is the best place for your Cascade Spice Japanese Iris. It will grow well in any rich garden soil, and even in wet soil. It isn’t drought tolerant, but benefits from drier conditions during the winter. Grow in a pot so you can stand it in a pond for the summer months. Hardy in zone 4, yet it grows well in hot, humid areas as well. Deer and rabbits don’t eat it, and the pest and disease problems seen in bearded iris don’t occur in Japanese ones. Remove flower stems once blooming is over, and once they yellow, trim back the leaves in fall to a couple of inches in winter – watch out for the new tips, that often emerge in fall,