Japanese Water Iris, Japanese Flag, Russian Iris 'Crested Surf'

Iris ensata

Family
Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Iris (EYE-ris)
Species
ensata (en-SA-tuh)
Synonym
Iris kaempferi
Height
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Danger
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Bright Yellow
Dark Blue
White/Near White
Foliage
Herbaceous
Class
Japanese (JI)
Bloom Time
Midseason (M)
Other Details
Other details
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Soil pH requirements
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Awards (if applicable)
Foliage Color
Bloom Characteristics
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Very high moisture needs; suitable for bogs and water gardens
Where to Grow
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Aptos, California

Day Valley, California

Rio del Mar, California

Belleville, Michigan

Grosse Ile, Michigan

Southold, New York

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Gardener's Notes:

1
positive
1
neutral
0
negative
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G
Aptos, CA | January 2011 | neutral

Someone gave me a tiny slip of the yellow variety of this plant. It took over our small pond in about two years. VERY hard to remove, s...Read More

P
P
(Arlene) Southold, NY (Zone 7a) | December 2008 | positive

CRESTED SURF Bauer/Coble Reg. 2000
40in M 6
White, blue veins, blue style arms.

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Tree Peony 'Hana Gokoro'
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(Epidesmia hypenaria)
Chaffinch
(Fringilla coelebs)