PLANT FINDER
Dinner Plate™ Ice Cream Japanese Iris
Iris ensata 'Ice Cream'
Height: 3 feet
Spacing: 18 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3b
Other Names: Japanese Water Iris
Group/Class: Dinner Plate Series
Description:
An early to mid summer bloomer featuring tall stalks topped with periwinkle-blue flowers accented with white ruffled edges and yellow centers; narrow, sword-shaped leaves; prefers well-drained, consistently moist soil; great for borders and containers
Ornamental Features
Dinner Plate™ Ice Cream Japanese Iris has masses of beautiful lightly-scented powder blue flag-like flowers with yellow throats and white edges at the ends of the stems in mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its sword-like leaves remain green in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Dinner Plate™ Ice Cream Japanese Iris is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Insects
Dinner Plate™ Ice Cream Japanese Iris is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Bog Gardens
Planting & Growing
Dinner Plate™ Ice Cream Japanese Iris will grow to be about 32 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Characteristics
Applications
Ornamental Features