Description of Iris ensata 'Emotion'

Iris ensata 'Emotion' is a Japanese iris grown for large early summer flowers and neat fans of leaves. You may also see Japanese iris listed as Iris kaempferi in some places. This cultivar suits bog gardens where you can keep the roots wet through spring.

Appearance

It forms upright fans of narrow leaves, then sends up flower stems around 70 to 100cm. Blooms are large and showy with ruffled petals, usually in the purple to violet range with contrasting markings.

Care Guide

It wants rich soil and steady moisture. If it dries in late spring, flowering suffers.

• Sun: Full sun is best for flowers. Part shade is fine in wet soil.
• Soil: Humus-rich, moisture-holding soil. Neutral to slightly acid suits it.
• Water: Keep the root zone wet through spring and early summer.
• Feeding: A spring feed supports bud formation.
• Division: Divide in spring every few years if the clump gets tight.

Plant rhizomes just covered, not deep, and keep weeds away from the crown.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This is a strong bog garden feature plant. Use it mid to back of the bed, then plant lower growers in front to hide the base of the stems.

It also works well in liner bogs where you can give it a deeper pocket of compost. If you grow it in a basket, feeding and dividing are much easier.

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