Japanese iris: description, photo, best grades, planting and care

Have you ever heard of Japanese irises? In his homeland, "flower of the samurai" is considered to be an unpretentious and hardy plant, as a result of which he received such an unusual name.

Feature of Japanese iris

Japanese iris is not a water culture, and therefore needs watering only during the flowering period. For the rest of the time, this culture tolerates drought. This makes the plant the best "inhabitant" of country sites. However, for all its unpretentiousness, it is still necessary to understand the nuances of planting and maintenance, if you want to grow such a plant and achieve its flowering.

Appearance of the plant

Japanese iris is of interest primarily because of large flowers, whose diameter reaches 14-25 centimeters. It consists of three outer lobes and perianth, as well as small internal lobes. The leaves of the plant can reach sizes from 25 to 60 centimeters. Their color varies from yellow-green to dark-green in color.

Irises (photo is given in the article) grow in a natural environment in marshy meadows and forest fringes in China, Myanmar and Japan. For a very long time, due to its eastern origin, the plant was virtually unknown in other countries. And now, through the efforts of botanists from Russia and the United States, a whole collection of Japanese irises has been created, which has about a thousand varieties. In the arsenal there are varieties with different degrees of frost resistance, different flowering times, multi-colored flowers of various shades. Derived in the US and Japan varieties, less frost-hardy, and therefore grow them only in warm regions. In a temperate climate, the thermophilic varieties either do not bloom or freeze.

At home, the Japanese iris is planted in such a way that the stunning beauty of the huge flowers could be admired from a certain height: in the lowlands and in the old rice fields. Since the plant is hygrophilous, though drought-resistant, it is much easier to keep the soil moist with this type of planting. Very often in the photos you can see how the irises are right in the water. However, this does not mean that the plant can be grown in this way. The greatest amount of moisture Japanese iris requires during the laying of buds and flowering. Only in these periods, to improve the appearance of plants flooded with water. Sometimes, through ignorance, amateur gardeners try to repeat such actions, which lead eventually to decay of the rhizomes, which are contraindicated in excessive moisture.

Which landing site should I choose?

If you want to plant a Japanese iris on your site, you first need to choose the right place. The area should be well illuminated. A tolerant plant also applies to mild penumbra. Under the trees and in full shadow, the irises grow very poorly and do not bloom at all. It is worth paying attention to the composition of the soil. For a plant, a light loam is preferred, which has a slightly acidic reaction. Before planting, you can moderate the soil with compost. Irises categorically do not tolerate an excess of calcium, so they are not recommended to plant in the land into which lime was added.

If the water in your area is hard, then for watering it is better to use a softer rain. Around the plant, you can make a small hole from the ground to contain moisture during rains. But at the same time, after the end of flowering, it is necessary to provide for the removal of excess water, since during this period its excess is harmful to the plant.

Irises (photos are given in the article) are not recommended to be transplanted more often than once every five to seven years. Plants look great in individual group compositions. But on the other hand they can be placed and surrounded by bathing suits, primulas, gypsophila and derebeniks.

Planting irises

If you plan to plant a Japanese iris on the site, you should first choose the right variety, which is the most adapted to growing in your region. Now there is a wide variety of varieties, among which you can choose the most acceptable option.

The plant can also be transplanted in spring (this is permissible for the middle zone of Russia), but it is preferable to do this after the flowering period ends, for example, in the first week of autumn.

Planting is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Preparation of planting materials.
2. Rhizomes with leaves are divided into parts.
3. Pits are prepared at a distance of at least 35 centimeters from each other. If you do group plantations, the distance can be slightly reduced.
4. Planted plants are buried in the soil for three to five centimeters and are sprinkled with soil. After that, iris must be poured.

Use of dressings

It is necessary to feed plants two or three times a year. In addition, it is worth remembering that it is necessary to make fertilizer during the vegetative period. Experts recommend using complex fertilizers for this purpose, since they contain the right amount of all trace elements. Plants also respond well to the solution of the mullein (10%). Japanese iris has some peculiarity.

It does not grow horizontally, but simply rises, forming a bump. Therefore, it makes sense to mulch the ground around the plant and sprinkle it. Such care will give an opportunity to develop young roots. Very often you can see the yellowing of the foliage of irises. In this case, the plant should be watered and sprinkled with iron chelate.

Preparation for wintering

Does the Iris need to be prepared for wintering? Planting and caring for the plant are not particularly difficult, as you could see. But, as for the wintering, the iris should be prepared for the cold season. For this, all the leaves are cut in such a way that only 10-15 centimeters remain above the ground. Then the rhizomes and fall asleep nutrient soil and cover the top with dry leaves. In such a shelter, the iris should winter. In the spring, it can be opened only when there is a steady heat.

The most thermophilic varieties make sense in the autumn and in the spring cover with a film. Shelter can protect the plant until it begins to interfere with the growth of foliage. If you dream of seeing a blossoming iris on your site, you need to ensure proper care and timely correct watering. Only in this case you can achieve abundant flowering.

Diseases and pests

When planting a plant, drainage can be provided. This will help prevent water stagnation and soil silt. Excessive moisture can lead to the development of rot, although in general the Japanese irises are not predisposed to them.

Of the insects, only thrips can inflict the greatest harm to plants. It is possible to fight such pests only with the help of insecticides. After the autumn pruning of plants, it is better to burn the foliage, thereby destroying the egg laying. Leaves must be cut after frost, because too early pruning can have a detrimental effect on flowering.

Reproduction of plants

Irises can be multiplied by dividing the rhizomes, which are perfectly regenerated. They must be separated in such a way that several leaves are present on each part. In this case, the foliage is cut off (their height should be no more than 10 centimeters). The divided parts should dry for a couple of days, and the slices can be sprinkled with charcoal.

Such care will prevent rotting of the root system. After the roots are dried and processed, they can be planted in the soil. Planted plant should be well watered. After the shrinkage of the soil, the upper part of the rhizomes may become bare. Therefore, it is necessary to pour the soil.

Seed Reproduction

If desired, irises can be propagated even by seeds. To collect them, you need to leave after flowering a few inflorescences, which will ripen the boxes. In autumn, they can be used to extract ready-made seeds, which are then sown in pots. For planting you will need a sandy substrate. Pots can be placed for the whole winter in an unheated hotbed. Seeds will only ascend with the arrival of spring, when the heat comes. Shoots should remain in the greenhouse until they become stronger, only after that they can be transplanted into the open ground.

Artificial pollination

The main feature of the plant is the structure of its flower. The lower part of the perianth acts as a landing pad for insects. Under their weight, the road to the anthers opens. Insects can not pollinate a plant collected by pollen, as the stigma ripens only the next day. But at the same time another flower, in which the pollen fell and the stigma opened slightly, the bumblebee pollinates it very well. If the florist has the desire to produce artificial pollination, then he needs to remove the anthers from the flower (the mother plant). This is done on the first day of flowering to prevent unwanted pollination. On the second day from the father's flower (just bloomed) you need to take a brush of pollen and apply it to the stigma of the mother plant. In this case, pollination can be considered as having taken place.

When choosing plants for perezipyleniya, you need to take into account that the varietal properties are transmitted, as a rule, on the maternal line. In addition, only varieties with the same number of petals need to be crossed. For example, plants with three petals can not be pollinated with six-petalled plants. For the process, you should take the very first flower on the peduncle, and all the rest must be removed.

After pollination, the ovaries should appear, which must be removed, leaving only one. Such measures are necessary to ensure that the mother plant does not weaken. If the seed boxes do not have time to ripen to frost, then the stems are cut off and put in a vase of water until full ripening.

Japanese irises: varieties

Currently, there are a variety of varieties of Japanese irises. All of them have completely different characteristics. Among them, you can choose exactly the kind that is most suitable for growing in your region.

Iris Japanese Vine Raffles reaches a height of 80-120 centimeters. The plant has xiphoid leaves, tapering toward the end. Iris has large flowers purple-violet, which live for three to five days. This variety is incredibly resistant to bacteriosis. The plant must winter only in shelter, otherwise it can simply freeze. For its landing it is better to choose open solar areas. For good development and growth, the soil must be rich in humus, well drained. With proper care the plant pleases with numerous wine red terry flowers.

Equally beautiful inhabitants of the garden are the Japanese irises Kayun Kapers. They prefer well-lit patches of the garden. The variety of colors of this variety makes it quite popular among amateur gardeners.

Iris Japanese Variegata is another representative of the family with beautiful large flowers of purple-violet shades. The height of the plant reaches 80-120 centimeters. Plants of this variety prefer very sunny places. Like other Japanese irises, Variegata prefers well drained humus soils. Each flower reaches 12 centimeters in diameter and lives from three to five days. The plant is not affected by bacteriosis.

Iris Japanese Mohomasumi reaches a height of 75 centimeters. Plant flowers have a light pink color (up to 17 centimeters in diameter). Leave and plant this variety does not differ from other varieties of Japanese iris.

Disadvantages and dignity of irises

For all its beauty, Japanese irises have low frost resistance, which is not very convenient for our regions. In addition, the plant flowers are odorless.

Among the advantages of the plant: resistance to various diseases, large flowers and a long period of their life (3-5 days).

It is worth noting that in the Japanese classification there is a separate group called Hego. The number of plants in it exceeds 3000 names. They all have very large flowers. Such plants are designed for growing in containers. They can become an adornment not only of the garden, but of your home. Of course, they will require careful care, as well as any other sort of Japanese iris, but they can be the best decoration of the house.