Graceful petals that look ready to lift off—Butterflies In Flight Japanese Iris brings a luminous lavender-blue bloom with a soft yellow signal that reads from across the garden. Tall, elegant stems and swordlike leaves create a refined vertical accent that’s equally at home by a pond edge or in a mixed border.
This perennial loves consistent moisture and rewards you with large, ruffled flowers in early to midsummer. Plant a small drift for a “flock” effect, cut a few stems for vases, and enjoy reliable performance with simple seasonal care.
Butterflies In Flight Japanese Iris Care
Give 6 or more hours of sun daily; in hot-summer regions, provide afternoon shade to preserve flower color and foliage. Plant in rich, organic, well-drained but consistently moist soil; aim for a slightly acidic pH of 5.5–6.5. Water to keep the root zone evenly damp, especially from spring through bloom; never let pots or beds dry out completely.
In water gardens, grow in a container with the crown at or just above soil level and set so water is at or up to 1 inch above the soil surface during active growth; remove from standing water before winter in cold climates.
Mulch 2–3 inches to hold moisture, keeping mulch off the crown. Feed in early spring with an acid-loving, slow-release fertilizer or a light compost top-dress; repeat lightly after bloom. Deadhead spent flowers for tidiness; cut foliage back to a few inches after frost. Divide every 3–4 years in late summer to early fall. Hardy in USDA zones 4–9.
Butterflies In Flight Japanese Iris Spacing
For a single specimen, allow an 18–24 inch circle. For a showy drift or pond-edge ribbon, plant 12–18 inches on center so clumps knit without crowding. Keep at least 18 inches from paths to accommodate upright foliage and flower spread.
In containers, use a 12–16 inch wide pot at least 10–12 inches deep with drainage; set the pot within a watertight sleeve or shallow pond shelf to maintain consistent moisture.
Why Grow Butterflies In Flight Japanese Iris?
- Large, ruffled blooms in lavender-blue with a soft yellow throat
- Thrives in consistently moist sites—perfect for pond edges and rain gardens
- Strong, upright stems for striking cut flowers
- Attracts pollinators while adding elegant, architectural foliage
- Low-maintenance routine with simple dividing and seasonal cleanup
Plant Butterflies In Flight Japanese Iris where the soil stays moist and the sun is kind, and enjoy a serene, butterfly-like display that stops visitors in their tracks each summer. It’s refined color and texture with refreshingly easy care.
- SKU:
- PER-IRS-BTF-LGL
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations