Pinkerton is a Japanese iris with soft pink flowers about 7 inches wide, close to twice the size of many Siberian irises. Pink crests arch over six broad falls that are veined in a darker shade and rippled at the edges.
It blooms late in the iris season, sometimes a month after the Siberians begin, on plants about 3 feet tall. It suits a moist border, pond edge or rain garden, and it makes an elegant cut flower.
What it looks like
Large, flat, open flowers about 7 inches across in soft pink, with six broad, overlapping falls that have darker pink to rose veining and rippled edges. Upright pink crests arch above the center of the bloom. Flowers are held on slender upright stems above narrow, sword-shaped green leaves. The plant forms an upright clump about 36 inches tall and 24 to 28 inches wide. At peak the wide pink blooms float like saucers above the foliage.
Growing it with lavender
Japanese iris wants rich, steadily moist soil that would rot lavender, so give it its own spot at a pond edge, in a rain garden or in a low, damp part of the yard.
Care
Plant in full sun to part shade in rich, acidic to neutral soil that stays consistently moist, especially from spring through bloom; they do well at pond edges but should not sit underwater in winter. Hardy in zones 4-9. Avoid lime, cut spent stems after flowering, and divide every 3-4 years in late summer to keep clumps vigorous.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Iris ensata
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Flower color: Soft pink with darker veining
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Foliage: Mid-green
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Growth habit: Upright clump
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Mature size: 36 in tall × 24–28 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 4–9
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Light: full sun, part sun to part shade
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Bloom start: Late-June
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Peak bloom: Early-July
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Bloom pattern: Single Flush
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Deer resistance: Resistant
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Pollinator value: Good
Sizes and shipping
Dormant bare-root plant, sold in boxes of 25 per variety (order in multiples of 25). Bare-root plants ship or are picked up March 1–May 31 only. They are soil-free, so they may ship to every state in that window. Dormant plants often show little or no top growth on arrival; plant or heel them in promptly.
Lavender companion · grow guide
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