Fringed Iris (Iris Japonica) 17cm

Description

Native to China and Japan, the exquisite Iris japonica, often known as the fringed iris or butterfly flower, has gracefully found a home in various South African gardens. This evergreen rhizomatous perennial forms attractive clumps of glossy, sword-shaped leaves, providing a lush backdrop for its delicate, orchid-like blooms. In late winter to early spring, typically around April to May in South Africa, slender, branching stems emerge, bearing a profusion of frilly, pale blue to white flowers. Each petal is intricately adorned with striking yellow or orange crests and fine purplish markings, giving the appearance of a butterfly in flight. While preferring semi-shaded, woodland-like conditions and moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, Iris japonica is surprisingly adaptable and can tolerate some drier periods once established, thriving as a beautiful groundcover beneath trees and shrubs in the temperate climate zones of South Africa.