I've entered some ensatas in the PlantFiles

and am now wondering if "Japanese Water Iris, Japanese Flag, Russian Iris" should be placed under the common name?

This message was edited May 11, 2006 10:02 PM

Those are all common names for Iris ensata. My thoughts are that they should all be in the common name field because if someone is searching for Russian Iris, the ones that don't have it listed in the common name won't come up in the search.



This message was edited May 12, 2006 7:17 PM

Thanks Joan! :)

I've also entered the zone field down to a 3. I've got a couple that have been outside for 5 years now....I don't give them any special winter protecton and I've also seen them growing a 5 hours drive north of me. Botanica (2nd Rev. ed) states zones 4-10.

edited to say Terry would like the lowest zone to be a 5.

This message was edited May 12, 2006 7:00 PM

Great! Hmmm....now I'm wondering if I need to go shopping for some. :) I've not seen anywhere that said they would grow down to our zones so I've not even tried. I will now though. I am totally in love with Umi Botaru, so I'm going to order that one. Thanks!

Did you know that Iris ensata also has synonyms? They are Iris kaempferi and Iris lactea

Way cool plant. I'm glad to hear that it has been known to grow in our zones.

I think it's one of the most beautiful flowering plants available. I entered Iris kaempferi but missed Iris lactea. I'll enter lactea when I fill in the common name. The admin are going to start wondering why I'm using the live view so much. ;)

Just remember that the crown of the ensata has to be above ice level prior to freeze-up (eventually I will be putting that comment as well into the PlantFiles). I grow mine in pots and one year left them in the pond.......luckily the water level had dropped that fall (normally I lift the pots and put it in the ground for the winter).