Iris ensata Sensation - Japanese Water Iris

Iris ensata, better known as Japanese Iris, have nothing in common with our classic garden irises. They thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist to wet soils. The flowers, measuring 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) in diameter, are composed of 3 large flat sepals topped with 3 finer petals. There are numerous cultivars with pink, violet, blue, white flowers... some of which have sepals that are occasionally striped or speckled with black, blue or violet.

Often cultivated on the banks of ponds and basins, Iris ensata, like many marsh plants, can tolerate having their "feet" in water during the summer, but do not tolerate being submerged during the winter, especially if it is freezing. Plant them in a heavy soil that forms a slight depression, at the bottom of a slope or on a bank where the soil becomes moist through capillarity.

The 'Sensation' variety has 12cm (5in) diameter flowers, violet with crimson reflections and maculated with gold at the centre. They bloom at the end of summer, reaching a height of 90cm (35in) for a good 3 weeks between June and July.

Cultivate this variety in moist soil, alongside Anemone rivularis, Astilbes, Lysimachias and Ligularias.