As promised, my old existing ensata:

They do make great clumps!

Gorgeous pic Leslie!

Thanks Neal. They really put on a show this year.

Neal!

I don't grow any PCI's or PCN's (yet )...but I think Sherry grows a few.

Beautifuk Leslie!

Beautif....WHAT??? Rob??

Oops...I forgot to add the so you know I was not offended!

Oh my! Oopsie!

Beautiful* Leslie!

LOL -- oh my!!!

Welcome, Vanozzi, and welcome to the beautiful world of Japanese irises.

Love your majestic clump, Leslie!

I do grow many and they tolerate soils that are more dry than you'd think they'd like. A few inches of mulch can keep them happy as long as they get some amount of water. They and Louisiana irises, which I also grow, appreciate soil that does not drain well but they don't want water freezing over their crowns in winter.

Those are gorgeous Pirl!

So I guess my sandy soil and summer temps over 100 degrees Farenheit for weeks at a time might be a little rough on them. I suppose I could heavily amend the soil and then give them a lot of mulch, and plant them in light shade...but I think I'm better letting people with the right conditions grow them...and I'll enjoy the photos, and growing other varieties more suited to my soil and climate.

I hope others will join in and share information with you Vanozzi so you can learn and be inspired by them!

I received and planted my first JI this past September and am hoping they will do well here in southern Pennsylvania. Am keeping my fingers crossed they will make it thru their initial winter okay. They are in raised beds with plenty of mulch.

Thank you, Marilyn. Yes, I'm afraid they may be as elusive for you as delphiniums are for me. Every area has its positives and negatives.

Good luck, Stacey. They should thrive for you.

What a terrific response !! Thanks guys and gals.Certainly looks like there are some fun folk in this thread
Thanks for posting some terrific pictures.
I started off 2 seasons ago with 6 cultivars, all ensata.I have other Japanese species, but I'm interested in growing and hybridizing ensatas.I bought another 6 different cultivars for this season.

It's pretty hot and dry, here in Australia, with days if not weeks, of temperatures over 40c.Days of 45c are not uncommon.Japanese iris are finished flowering, at least mine are, by the time extreme summer heat arrives.

Basically, I grow mine in 200mm (8 inch) pots plunged into polystyrene boxes with 2 inches of water during the growing season. They are flowered in full sun.Come autumn they are taken out of water.Some of the pots are placed into 2 litre plastic ice cream containers filled with water.They flower well and keep from year to year.The soil I use is local peat which I obtain from a farmer friend.I'm sure this simple method will work for those that think they are in a hostile environment.Why not try it?

As I said in my opening post, I've only been growing for 2 seasons, so please, pull me up if anything is incorrect,This way I'm going to learn, as well as others new to Japanese iris and hopefully we'll all have some fun along the way. (I'm an old bugger, so be kind )
Here is a picture of mine growing, just out my back door.

A number of years ago I tried a Japanese Iris and planted it in the backyard. If I remember right it lasted a couple years with normal drip irrigation. I think the dogs had moved the drip irrigation line, which I didn't notice and it died. I did buy another one a few years ago and have it planted in to much shade (has not flowered in a couple years) but it hasn't died either! This last summer I bought another and have it in a pot of water in full sun. It looks fine at the moment. I'm so glad you posted that they don't like their crowns frozen. You may have just saved it from certain death. I always wanted to try to dig a hole and line the hole with a piece of pond liner (maybe with a very small hole in it for minor drainage) to plant the Japanese Iris in it.

I also have one white un-named PCI that's been doing fine and increasing for a number of years. I'll have to try to find a picture of it and post it tomorrow.

Marilyn, I don't remember where the business was other than a bit south or east of Sacramento, but they grew roses, bearded iris and Japanese Iris. I think the name of the business was Roseiris, or Rosiris. Rob, Marilyn, Sherry and Jan you might want to try growing one to see what happens.

Beautiful planter. What area of the country are you in, vanozzi?

Vanozzi - your JI's are beautiful. YOU could teach us how to get them to grow and perform!

Philip - do you live in CA? The JI's enjoy full sunshine here but they perform well in partial shade. In CA they may enjoy some afternoon shade. If you don't get freezing weather then I would guess your thought about pond liner with a tiny hole, would work.

Pirl - Beautiful pics as always. Is the fourth one down Yuzen? Just love how the purple edge makes the bloom pop.

Vanozzi - Love your pot method. They look so healthy and happy. Do you just peat, or do you mix it with other soil? I think peat would be a great growing medium, and have some mixed into my beds. Maybe I should add some more when I mix in some more manure.

I do have one JI in a waterbowl. It's not happy.. The raccoons keep knocking it over. I've got a friend who grows them on the edge of her pond in partial shade quite successfully.

Arlene, I nearly swooned when I saw that one with the picotee edge. Lovely!

I do have some PCI's, and wanting to add more

Vanozzi, they look great in your planters! Maybe there is hope! I sure love how they look!