Iris laevigata: Country Or Region Of Origin
S. Siberia to Japan
Plant Profile: Iris laevigata
Taxonomy: Iris laevigataNames
Kakitsubata, Rabbit-Ear Iris, Water Iris
Phonetic Spelling:EYE-ris lay-vee-GAY-tuh
Genus:Iris
Species:laevigata
Family:Iridaceae
Water iris is a hardy perennial that thrives in areas of the yard prone to standing water. To achieve optimal blooming, it should be planted in a sunny spot with acidic, nutrient-rich soil and a water depth of 2 to 8 inches. While it prefers full sun, it can also adapt to partial shade and tolerate some alkaline conditions in the soil. This plant makes a stunning display when grouped together near ponds, streams, or in moist areas of a border or cottage garden.
Iris laevigata Feature Summary
Tags
#hummingbirds
#showy flowers
#wildlife plant
#purple flowers
#nectar plant
#blue flowers
#cut flowers
#low maintenance
#fall interest
#cottage garden
#mass planting
#flower arrangements
#standing water
#wet sites
#stream banks
#pond margins
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#ponds
#pond
#pond garden
#summer interest
#borders
#bedding plants
#spring interest
#pollinator plant
#wet soils tolerant
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
Similar Plants
Iris laevigata Feature Summary
Attributes
S. Siberia to Japan
Flowers attract hummingbirds.
Perennial
Flowers
Showy purple flowers 4" wide appear in late spring and last through early summer. They can occasionally rebloom in the fall.
Purple/Lavender
Blue
Good Cut
Showy
Spring
Summer
Fall
3-6 inches
Leaves
Narrow strap-shaped upright leaves with entire margins that are erect
Green
Simple
Rosulate
Acicular
Entire
Poisonous to Humans
Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in rhizomes
Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin)
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Water Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Deer
Wet Soil
Riparian
Pond
Hummingbirds
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Iris laevigata Image Gallery
Iris laevigata Attributes
Iris laevigata: Wildlife Value
Flowers attract hummingbirds.
Iris laevigata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Iris laevigata Flowers
Iris laevigata: Flower Description
Showy purple flowers 4" wide appear in late spring and last through early summer. They can occasionally rebloom in the fall.
Iris laevigata: Flower Color
Blue
Purple/Lavender
Iris laevigata: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Iris laevigata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Iris laevigata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Iris laevigata: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Iris laevigata Leaves
Iris laevigata: Leaf Description
Narrow strap-shaped upright leaves with entire margins that are erect
Iris laevigata: Leaf Color
Green
Iris laevigata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Iris laevigata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Iris laevigata: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Iris laevigata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Iris laevigata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Iris laevigata Poisonous to Humans
Iris laevigata: Poison Symptoms
Salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea. Highest concentration in rhizomes
Iris laevigata: Poison Toxic Principle
Pentacylic terpenoids (zeorin, missourin and missouriensin)
Iris laevigata: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Iris laevigata: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Iris laevigata Whole Plant Traits
Iris laevigata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Iris laevigata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Iris laevigata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Iris laevigata: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Iris laevigata Cultural Conditions
Iris laevigata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Iris laevigata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Iris laevigata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Iris laevigata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Iris laevigata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Iris laevigata Stem
Iris laevigata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Iris laevigata Landscape
Iris laevigata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Iris laevigata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Iris laevigata: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Iris laevigata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Iris laevigata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Iris laevigata: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
