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White Japanese Rooftop Iris

Iris tectorum 'Alba'

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White Japanese Rooftop Iris (Iris tectorum 'Alba') at Homestead Gardens

White Japanese Rooftop Iris flowers

White Japanese Rooftop Iris flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

White Japanese Rooftop Iris (Iris tectorum 'Alba') at Homestead Gardens

White Japanese Rooftop Iris flowers

White Japanese Rooftop Iris flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  10 inches

Flower Height:  15 inches

Spacing:  12 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4b

Ornamental Features

White Japanese Rooftop Iris has masses of beautiful white flag-like flowers with yellow centers at the ends of the stems in mid spring, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its sword-like leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

White Japanese Rooftop Iris is an herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

White Japanese Rooftop Iris is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

White Japanese Rooftop Iris will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity extending to 15 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 15 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

White Japanese Rooftop Iris is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Groundcover  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features