Iris ensata 'Dinner Plate Ice Cream' features exceptionally large creamy white blooms with ruffled edges and subtle lavender veining near the center. This Japanese iris cultivar is admired for its dramatic flower size and graceful form. The sword shaped foliage remains attractive through the season creating an upright architectural accent for moist garden spaces and water edges.
Height & Spread: 28 - 36 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Early to mid summer
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Prefers consistently moist, acidic to neutral soil
Watering Needs: Requires steady moisture, especially in spring and early summer
Deer Resistance: Seldom browsed by deer due to tough foliage
Native Status
Originally developed from species native to Japan, Iris ensata cultivars like 'Dinner Plate Ice Cream' are non native but well suited for ornamental use in temperate water gardens and damp landscapes.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Large flowers attract swallowtails and other butterflies seeking nectar in midsummer.
Bees
- Visited by bumblebees and long tongued solitary bees that can access the deep floral structure.
Birds
- The upright foliage provides nesting cover for small ground nesting birds such as song sparrows.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 18 - 24 in apart in groups for full flowering effect and foliage density.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent near pond margins, rain gardens, or alongside streams where consistent soil moisture can be maintained.
Companion Plants
- Rodgersia aesculifolia - Bold textured foliage and pink flower plumes echo the dramatic scale of Japanese iris flowers.
- Ligularia dentata 'Othello' - Dark leaves and orange yellow daisylike blooms add contrast and thrive in similarly moist soils.
- Astilboides tabularis - Huge rounded foliage and pale blooms complement the upright habit of Japanese iris.
- Primula japonica - Whorled flower tiers add vertical layering and bright color to moist shade areas.
- Mimulus ringens - Native monkey flower with purple blooms that tolerates wet conditions and pairs well in naturalistic designs.