Ikeda Sunbeam Japanese Roof Iris. As far as I know, this is the only cultivar of variegated Japanese Roof Iris. There are some out there on the market masquerading as this, but these are all Iris japonicum, which closely resembles this species in foliage but not in flower. The Roof Iris has a much larger bloom with only several on a scape, but Iris japonicum has a multi-branched scape with many much smaller flowers. We grow a selection of this Iris japonicum 'Eco Easter' which was introduced by Dr. Don Jacobs of Atlanta. It is a much better bloom producer than the species. This selection of Japanese Roof Iris 'Ikeda Sunbeam' was found in Japan by renowned plantsman Barry Yinger. Its variegation mainly occurs in the late winter and spring. Half of the leaf is a cream white and the other half is green. The flowers are the typical azure blue of the species. It merely clumps out and does not run like Iris japonicum, but stays more in a clump. In the Deep South it performs better in afternoon shade or just filtered sun.
Zones 5-9
