Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Perennial
Succulent
Origin
Russia, Siberia, China, Japan
Southern Africa
Types
Iris ensata, Iris japonica
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
6030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Boggy areas, gardens, meadows, Shores of rivers or lakes
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
10-1
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Lavender, Blue Violet
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Water Deeply, Water slowly, and allow to dry completely between soakings, Water twice a day in the initial period
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Rhizome rot, Slugs, Snails, Viruses
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Variety of soil types
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Flies, Snails
Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bog Garden, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Alterative, Anthelmintic, Antidote, Appetizer, Depurative, Diuretic, Hepatitis
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Basketary, Fibre
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Water Gardens
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
IRIS ensata
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Iris
Japanese iris
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Japanese iris
Elephant Bush
In German
Japanese iris
Elephant Bush
In French
iris Xapanese
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Iris Xapanese
elefante Bush
In Greek
ιαπωνική ίριδα
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
íris japonesa
elefante de Bush
In Polish
japońskie iris
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Iris Italica
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Iridaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Iris
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
601
1
27800
👆🏻