Plant Min Zone: 4b
Plant Max Zone: 9a
Sunlight: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Sun
Water / Rainfall: Average
Soil Quality: Poor, Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Early Summer
Flower Color: Purple, White
Berry / Fruit Color: Green, Black
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low
Poor Soil Tolerance: Shallow Soils, Rocky Soils
Height: 1' - 1.5'
Width: 1' - 1.5'
Growth Rate: Medium
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground Around First Fall Freeze: No Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Tolerates Periods of Standing Water, Resistant to Rabbits, Base of Retaining Wall Locations
Ornamental Features: Other Features not listed
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover, Erosion Control
Possible Pest Problems: Virus, Snails / Slugs
Plant Limitations: Aggressive Rhizomes / Runners, Needs Regular Irrigation
Japanese Roof Iris (Iris tectorum) is a rhizomatous perennial iris species with attractive clusters of wide fan-like foliage. It is native of China and Korea, with lavender-blue, bluish-violet, purple-blue, blue-lilac or sky blue flowers. Although flowers are attractive, this plant is grown just as much for its foliage. It prefers to grow in rich, well-drained, forest soil in part shade. This plant will grow in thin soils on top of rock outcroppings provided that moisture is available; Iris tectorum is commonly called 'roof iris' because it was grown in the thatch of Chinese and Japanese houses. Mostly used in Kansas gardens as an accent or curiosity plant.