Fourfold Pink

Fourfold Pink blooms early, midseason, and late — one of the very few Japanese irises registered across all three windows. If you're planting a small number of varieties and want the longest possible display, this is one to start with.

The flower opens from deep buds into lavender pink falls, each with a white central area crossed by fine mimosa yellow veins and a rich lemon yellow signal at the base. The standards are white, edged in phlox purple; the style arms white, edged and tipped in lavender pink. Warm, soft coloring that's uncommon in a class dominated by blues and violets.

Bred by Currier McEwen and introduced in 1996. McEwen was a physician and medical school dean who took up hybridizing in retirement and pioneered tetraploid breeding in Japanese and Siberian irises — work that changed both classes permanently. He was in his late eighties when this one was introduced, and kept breeding into his nineties. The "fourfold" in the name refers to its tetraploid chromosome count.

Standing 30 inches, compact enough for the front of a border.

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.