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Japanese Iris

Iris sibirica (EYE-ris san-GWIH-nee-ah)

Family: Iridaceae Non-native Herbaceous

Siberian Iris is an attractive bulb native to Europe and Asia. Over time it has naturalized in other temperate regions around the world. It has a rhizome and hollow branched verticle stems. It tolerates wet soils well and looks attractive along stream banks and pond margins. Plant in average to wet well-drained soils in full sun. They will tolerate some shade but blooming is decreased. They are deer and rabbit resistant.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 48 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Iris Iris hexagona Iris latifolia

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb; Perennial
Life cycle
Bulb; Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Ribbed grass-like leaves can grow 10-30 inches long and 1/4 inch across.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Violet-blue to occasionally white flowers 3" across from late spring to mid-summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Ellipsoidal capsule with flat seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
20-45 inch hollow slender stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Asia
Wildlife value
Deer and rabbit resistant
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Pond; Riparian
Landscape theme
Water Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#pond margins #stream banks #riparian #wet soils tolerant #HS302 #white flowers #rhizomes #purple flowers #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #buncombe county sun and shade garden #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Wet Soil

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.