Center of Attention Iris

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

30-36 Inches

Mature Spread

18-24 Inches

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Center of Attention Iris throws dinner-plate flowers after many irises have packed it in. The ruffled blooms look hand-painted in violet-blue with dark signals and flashes of yellow. The petals flare wide, almost horizontal, so the color is impossible to miss from across the yard. Iris ensata ‘Center of Attention’ rises to about 36 inches tall and spreads 24–28 inches, with narrow, swordlike leaves. This is the iris we steer people toward when they have a rain garden edge or pond-side bed that stays damp and needs a true focal moment.

Those big blooms arrive in early summer, stretching iris season beyond Siberian types. Plant it in a drift and you get a clean vertical clump of foliage first, then a wave of flowers held above the leaves like flags. The stems make strong cuts for a vase. Deer and rabbits typically leave it alone, and pollinators work the flowers when they open. If you have a low spot that never quite dries, this is where ‘Center of Attention’ earns its name.

Center of Attention Iris Care

Give Iris ensata ‘Center of Attention’ full sun to part shade. Plant it in moisture-retentive, organic-rich soil, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (about 6.0–7.0). Plant the rhizomes 2–3 inches deep, and mulch to slow evaporation and keep the root zone cool. Keep water consistent from spring through bloom; if the soil dries hard, flower size and stem count drop fast. Feed in early spring and again right after flowering with a balanced fertilizer to support next year’s buds.

Remove spent flower stalks at the base once blooms finish. Divide clumps every 3–4 years, especially if you notice fewer flowers, or roots creeping to the surface.

Center of Attention Iris Spacing

Space plants 24–28 inches apart so each clump can broaden without crowding. Plant nearby with cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and sweet flag (Acorus americanus) for a moisture-loving planting that looks sharp from spring through summer. For containers, use a wide 18–20 inch pot and keep it evenly moist during active growth. 

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