Iris ensata 'Pink Lady' is a graceful Japanese iris prized for its soft pink petals with lavender undertones and golden throats. It brings a refined elegance to water garden settings and early summer borders.
Height & Spread: 28 - 36 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Early to midsummer
Light Requirements: Full sun to part sun
Soil Preference: Moist, rich, slightly acidic soils with good water retention; suitable for shallow standing water during the growing season
Watering Needs: High; thrives in consistently moist to wet soil
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Native Status
Not native to North America. This cultivar originates from Japanese iris species, commonly cultivated for ornamental use in water gardens and damp landscapes worldwide.
Wildlife & Insects
Butterflies
- Attracts Painted Ladies and Monarchs with its open blooms and nectar availability in early summer.
Bees
- Visited by bumblebees and native sweat bees drawn to the pollen rich centers of its wide flowers.
Beneficial Insects
- Supports hoverflies and predatory wasps that help control pest populations in surrounding garden areas.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to provide airflow and accommodate clump expansion in moisture retentive soils.
Landscape Placement
- Ideal for planting along water features, in bog gardens, or rain gardens where reliable moisture is available and graceful color is desired.
Companion Plants
- Rodgersia aesculifolia (Fingerleaf Rodgersia) - Large textured foliage and tall floral spikes complement the upright form of Japanese iris.
- Primula japonica (Japanese Primrose) - Loves moist soils and provides layers of early color beneath taller iris blooms.
- Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) - Cheerful golden flowers in early spring set the stage for the iris bloom season.
- Carex elata 'Aurea' (Bowles' Golden Sedge) - Bright grassy foliage creates vivid contrast with pastel iris flowers and thrives in wet areas.
- Filipendula rubra (Queen of the Prairie) - Fluffy pink plumes add airy structure and continue the pink tones into mid and late summer.