Japanese Roof Iris Shade

Iris tectorum alba has wide white flowers with yellow crests.

Japanese roof iris shade. Depending on your soil a liberal application of balanced fertilizer for acid loving plants rhododendron camellia in the spring just before or after bloom is beneficial. After noon shade in hot areas will benefit bloom. If happy it will reseed. This simplifies their care and lets you just enjoy the flowers.

The japanese roof iris is unique amongst irises because it grows about as well in the shade as in the sun. You can enjoy growing japanese iris plants with delicate blooms in moist and shady locations if you provide plenty of acidic water. Native to eastern asia and cultivated in japan for more than 500 years it prefers full sun to partial shade. Some sources suggest that when space became too precious for anything but food crops japanese women who used the powdered rhizomes as a face powder began growing iris tectorum on their thatch roofs.

Japanese roof iris is one of those plants. Its dense fans of broad ribbed glossy green sword like leaves are 12 long. They prefer a sunny to part shade location in rich well drained soil and benefit from the shelter of a wall with western or southern exposure and winter mulch. Japanese iris iris ensata is also known as japanese water iris.

Its foliage wide blades like bearded iris curves into an elegant cascade that is such an unusual texture in shade even dry shade. It can grow in semi shade light woodland or no shade. The short lived flowers come in white alba or blue violet and their form looks like butterflies. The rhizomes should be spaced 10 16 inches apart planted at 1 2 inches deep and will mature at soil level.

Or perhaps it was for purely pragmatic reasons to help hold the thatch together. Iris tectorum alba will spread to form an attractive ground. Other legends indicate it was used to ward off evil spirits. Please donate to support our plants to save the planet project.

It is very delicate and pretty but has an interesting past so it is no wonder that i love it. Japenese roof iris as a plant collector rather than a garden designer i adore plants that are a bit out of the ordinary and if they come with a good history or story so much the better. Japanese iris are heavy feeders. Like all irises it should be planted with the rhizomes just at the surface of the soil.

The colony will slowly increase in size or you can speed the process along by dividing the plants in the fall. Worth finding even if by mail order. Growing japanese iris plants are rarely bothered by disease or the borer which often attacks the traditional bearded iris. Japanese roof iris is also useful in wet areas such as around ponds and fountains.

Another great iris for shade is called iris tectorum aka japanese roof iris. Also known as japanese roof iris iris tectorum prefers part sun to sun with some afternoon protection and moist to average well drained.