Iris ensata (Kaempferi)

Iris ensata (previously I. Kaempferi), Clematis-flowered Iris, has flowers that are a lovely shade of dark violet blue. This is the species from which all Iris ensata cultivars are derived and therefore should come true from seed. Iris ensata plants are not suitable for standing permanently in water, despite the fact that many suppliers sell them in perforated aquatic baskets. They require moist but open soil conditions and will rot if left standing in water over winter.