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Iris japonica
Also called Fringed Iris, Japanese Iris
Iris japonica is a rhizomatous perennial iris from China and Japan, grown for its pale blue, lavender or white flowers with orange or yellow crests. It spreads into dense clumps and does best in moist, well-drained soil in partial shade.
Iris japonica, commonly known as fringed iris, shaga and butterfly flower, is a native of China and Japan. It is a species in the genus Iris, in the subgenus Limniris and within the Lophiris section. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant, with pale blue, lavender or white flowers with an orange or yellow crest. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.
Iris japonica is commonly cultivated in the USA. It is the most commonly cultivated crested iris in the UK.
It is hardy to between USDA Zone 7 and Zone 10. It is also hardy to European Zone H3. It is very easy to grow in a Mediterranean climate in sheltered positions. Within the UK, it is hardy in Devon and Cornwall, and some other parts of southern UK. It prefers the protection of a sheltered sunny wall. Some cultivars of Iris japonica are more hardy than others. However, an extremely cold winter (or late frosts) may adversely affect the flowering of this species, and the foliage becomes tatty, or browned.
Like many other irises, most parts of the plant are poisonous (rhizome and leaves), if mistakenly ingested can cause stomach pains and vomiting. Also handling the plant may cause a skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
It is native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia.
In Japan, it is used as a source of starch. The rhizomes are ground up to access the starch. In China, it is used in herbal medicines, the rhizome is used to treat injuries. As a decoction, it is used to treat bronchitis, internal injuries, rheumatism, and swellings.
Iris acutiloba subsp. lineolata · Iris acutiloba · Iris adriatica · Iris afghanica · Iris alberti · Iris albomarginata · Iris alexeenkoi · Single Bract Iris · Iris antilibanotica · Stool iris · Iris arenaria · Iris assadiana
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Iris japonica by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
