Artesian Spring

Artesian Spring carries its flowers at 48 inches — four feet of stem holding six broad falls in a soft blending of purple that shifts across the petal rather than sitting flat. The effect is closer to watercolor than to a solid color.

Registered in 2009 by Chad Harris of Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm in southwest Washington. Harris has been growing irises for four decades and is a Master Judge with the American Iris Society; several of his Japanese iris introductions hold national awards, including 'Bewitching Twilight', which took the Payne Medal in 2013.

Blooming late, after most other Japanese irises have finished, it's one of the varieties we count on to carry color deeper into summer.

Japanese irises want moisture, especially through spring bloom season, and slightly acidic soil — they won't tolerate lime. Full sun gives the best performance. Hardy in zones 4–8.