Species Iris, Japanese Roof Iris, Wall Iris

On Nov 1, 2016, lunchladyk from Durham, NC wrote:

This iris was along my walkway in Durham,NC when I moved into my house over 10 yrs ago and I have done absolutely nothing to it except cut back the foliage on occasion but not every spring. This flower grows wonderfully by itself without any help whatsoever! I don't even water it. It is the most beautiful shade of purple in the early Spring. I look forward to this gorgeous sea of color every year. This iris is VERY easy to transplant and grow even for the beginners.

On Apr 3, 2012, kdmclynn from Washington, DC wrote:

Planted our very first green, as in vegetated, roof over our sunroom back in the fall of 2008. Planted the usual sedums , but also planted a swath of tectorum, Roof Irises, including a few Iris tectorum 'Jimmy Stewart,' a white flowered cultivar. A 'Jimmy Stewart' iris was the very first to bloom that very first spring in 2009, followed by many more blooms. The irises have continued to thrive and we divided the clumps in the fall of 2011.

The sedums are doing fine but the Irises create a stunning green roof garden, blooming and spreading, even with just 5" of growing material. If we can have a successful green roof, anyone can. Highly recommend including this iris in your green roof planting.

On May 29, 2010, judyk from W Hartford, CT wrote:

My favorite pass-along plant. Grows in sun or shade. Only care needed is to cut back old foliage in spring -- here in zone 5 the foliage persists thru the winter, unlike standard iris, which dies back and sprouts cleanly in spring. My variety is white and its blossoms remind me of the flying nun. Foliage is similar to standard iris but more graceful. Love it!

On Nov 25, 2004, rainbeau from Connersville, IN wrote:

PLANT THRIVES IN INDIANA CLIMATE. NEEDS LITTLE OR NO FEEDING. SUN OR PARTIAL SHADE WORK FINE.
SEEDS PRODUCE SECOND YEAR BLOOM IN SLIGHT VARIATIONS OF SHADES OF LAVENDER WITH OCCASIONAL WHITE. PODS PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES OF SEED.
NICE PLANT FOR THE NATURALIZED ROCK GARDEN. FOLIAGE STAYS NICE AND GREEN FOR THE SUMMER BUT TENDS TO BE A LITTLE FLOPPIER THAN MANY OF THE SPECIES IRIS.

On Oct 11, 2003, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

Roof Iris or Root Iris? Or is it a Wall Iris?

It IS grown on thatch roofs in Japan, hence its most common vernacular name. Some sources suggest that when space became too precious for anything but food crops, Japanese women - who used the powdered rhizomes as a face powder - began growing Iris tectorum on their thatch roofs. Other legends indicate it was used to ward off evil spirits; or perhaps it was for purely pragmatic reasons (to help hold the thatch together.)

"Root Iris" is less-often used, and possibly the result of a misinterpretation of "Roof".

"Wall Iris" is its third common name, and it's suggested for planting near a wall (it will take more shade than many other Iris species.)

No matter what you call it, th... read moree pleated leaves and pretty blooms make it well-worth growing in your garden (or thatch roof!)