Pleasant Early Bird

Pleasant Early Bird is one of the first Japanese irises to open in our garden each year, arriving ahead of the main flush and starting the season off. 

This one doesn't appear in the American Iris Society registry, which isn't unusual. Growers sometimes carry plants under working or nursery names — seedlings, historic imports, or selections that were never formally registered. It's part of what makes a small collection interesting: not everything is in the books.

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.