Japanese Water Iris, Japanese Flag, Russian Iris 'Variegata'

We've been growing this more for the foliage than for the flowers with their short season. The white-variegated leaves have a silvery eff...Read Moreect when viewed from a distance, and though they green up somewhat as they age, they still show some silver as frost approaches. Unlike siberian iris, whose foliage splays open untidily as the summer wears on, Iris ensata foliage remains upright throughout the season.

Plants perform well in well-drained acid border soil and not just in water/bog gardens.

According to Armitage, this is hardy to Z4.

Awards: Honorable Mention 1992

I'm tempted to give away all my plain yellow and purple water iris, and start over with the variegated types - they have so much more int...Read Moreeresting foliage when they're not in bloom (which is the majority of the time!)