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Japanese Iris - Does Foliage Hold Up Like Siberian Iris?

harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania

15 years ago

I really like the foliage on the Siberian Iris we planted last spring. It held up through a long season.

I saw some large potted Japanese Iris at a nearby nursery and almost made an impulse purchase. I like the bloom form and color. The likely home is a prime spot where we will see it daily and long-lasting foliage is a must.

How does the foliage of Japanese Iris compare to the Siberian Iris?

Does it bloom about the same time as the Siberian?

Thanks.

Harry

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Comments (5)

greenguy1
15 years ago
I'm in zone 7 Maryland, for me Siberians start blooming the middle of May, a week to two weeks earlier than the Japanese Iris.

The foliage of Japanese iris is overall more subtantial than that of Siberians. The leaf is wider and thicker, and has a fat, rigid mid-rib that keeps it from being floppy. It also stays a nice medium green the whole season (not as dark a green as Siberians). If your Siberian foliage held up well for you, there should be no problem with the Japanese. I have actually left the foliage on the whole winter some years and it was a quite attractive gray-brown, standing tall until I cut it down in February or March.

They (at least my Japanese iris) set a lot of seed, and the pods are also attractive. Letting them go to seed hasn't seemed to affect the amount of bloom I get year to year. Sometimes I deadhead, sometimes I don't. But, unless you are particularly interested in seeing the results of genetic recombination, make sure to remove the seed pods before they start to split open - three or four years ago I didn't and I'm still getting seedlings all over the place. One of the seedlings was actually quite lovely (I somehow missed it weeding, and it got to blooming size), having gotten a deep purple color and flat, round form from one parent and a stripe/stippling pattern from another, so I kept it; the rest have gone to the compost pile...

- Steve
newyorkrita
15 years ago
I have told that the bloom sequence on iris is intermediate bearded, then tall bearded, then Siberian, then Japanese.
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I don't know why your Irises arent blooming, but I found this article and believe it to have all the information you will need. Do plant it in a spot that gets the most sun in your yard. Caring for Japanese Iris Cut off faded Japanese iris flowers to maintain an attractive look and stimulate new ones. Once the blooming period is over, cut off the old stems. Do not, however, cut the leaves back severely after flowering. The plants need their leaves for the rest of the season to store up energy for next year. Watering Japanese Iris Japanese irises require lots of moisture, about an inch a week. If they are in a regular garden bed, run a drip system when rainfall is sparse to keep the soil from drying out. Mulch the plants well. Near a pond where the water table is just below the soil surface, they can manage on their own. Fertilizing Japanese Iris Japanese irises are heavy feeders and should be fertilized twice during the season. At planting time or every spring sprinkle a general purpose fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants on the soil near the irises. Do not allow it to fall on the stems or leaves. Repeat this later in the summer just before they begin to bloom. As with other bulb plants, do not use manure. Mulching and Weed Control A 2 to 3 inch layer of chopped leaves, shredded bark or other attractive organic material spread on the soil over the iris rhizomes protects them. In the summer it discourages weeds and helps the soil retain moisture. In the winter it insulates the iris roots against the typical alternate freezing and thawing of winter. This minimizes soil heaving and disturbance of the shallowly planted rhizomes. Propagating Japanese Iris To acquire more Japanese iris plants and to keep existing ones blooming at their best, divide the broad clumps every 3 or 5 years. Do this either in the spring or early fall. Carefully dig up the knarled clumps of rhizomes and wash them off with the hose. Slice through their densely matted roots with a sharp axe or large knife, to make smaller chunks composed of 4 to 6 rhizomes each. Discard sections of older, weakened rhizomes from the center of the original clump. Replant the most vigorous ones as directed above. When dividing in the fall, trim back iris foliage for easier handling. Newly divided clumps of iris may not bloom the following season. With good soil conditions and an annual application of fertilizer, most clumps will bloom within a year or two. As you can see, the care for the Japanese iris is much different than the Tall Bearded or German Iris. I hope this helps and don't give up, they are beautiful flowers and once established need little attention. Nancy VB
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PollyNY
15 years ago
The foliage on JIs is just as lovely as the sibs. Many species too have great foliage. Not bothered by the insects, and other leaf problems the bearded have, normally.

Japanese will bloom after the siberians. In some places Rita, the sibs bloom before the TBs. All depends on where you live, but in our area, dwarf bearded, median bearded, tall bearded, followed shortly after with sibs (may bloom at the same time as some TBs, then the JIs.
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
Original Author
15 years ago
I planted two potted Japanese Iris this weekend. They are named Sensation and Gracieuse. Both are in a bed that has great soil along side my 3 Siberians, roses and other perennials.

They were planted in a mixture of soil, humus and composted manure. Is additional fertilizing recommended?

Is there much chance these Japanese Iris might bloom this season?
PollyNY
15 years ago
Hi Harry,

I would not recommend fertilizing them until late summer. They sound like they have a good planting area, and really probably don't need additional fertilizer at all, but late summer is when they set their buds for next years flowers, so I like to fertilize them then. It never hurts to hit them with some Miracle Gro if you are using it in the garden, though.

Potted may bloom this year.

By the way, Sensation and Gracieuse are not registered Japanese irises. We have had a huge influx of Japanese irises from Dutch growers in the past few years and they are the names some of those are given. Some others are Pink Lady, Royal Robes and Eden's Paintbrush. These are irises that the Japanese growers were going to toss, and sold instead to the Dutch growers who have marketed them through wholesale houses. They probably won't look like the picture on the plant if there was one. It may be a beautiful iris, or it may be a dud. Hopefully the ones you got will be nice. But, please, please do not sell trade, or otherwise pass either of those along as a named Japanese iris. And next time consider buying from an iris grower, or get them from a nursery that carries registered named ones. You can check for registered names at the Society For Japanese Iris website.

Polly @ Siberian Iris Gardens

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