Japanese water iris, Sword-leaved iris
Iris ensata

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A perennial plant. It grows 30-90 cm high and 30-45 cm wide. It has a creeping rhizome. The leaves are narrow and 30-80 cm long by 5-12 mm wide. The flowering stems are 25-100 m long. The flowers are purple and beardless. Colours can vary from white, blue, pink and purple.

There are about 300 Iris species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It does well in sunny positions beside water. It will not tolerate dry, hot conditions. It suits hardiness zones 5-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, Japan, Korea, North America, Russia, Siberia, Slovenia, Tasmania

How it is used for food

Starch is extracted from the roots.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

škrlatnordeča perunika

Synonyms

Iris caricifolia Pall. ex Link; Iris doniana Spach; Iris ensata var. spontanea (Makino) Nakai; Iris graminea Thunb. [Illegitimate]; Iris kaempferi Siebold ex Lem.; and others