Blue Blue Heaven

Blue Blue Heaven does something almost no other Japanese iris does: it blooms from early season straight through to very late. Where most varieties give you a window of a week or two, this one carries color across nearly the whole season. If you're only planting a few, plant this one.

The flower is a clear blue self — six broad falls in one uniform, unbroken blue, with none of the veining or brushing that marks most modern introductions. Simple, and all the better for it. At 45 inches it stands tall enough to read from across the garden.

Registered by Terry Aitken in 2017. Aitken runs Aitken's Salmon Creek Garden in Vancouver, Washington, and has been a significant figure in Japanese iris breeding and introduction for decades.

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.