Marginal Pond Plants: Iris ensata ‘Electric Rays’

Iris ensata ‘Electric Rays’ is a spectacular plant with dark purple-blue flowers that enjoys being in a boggy spot around a pond.

Showy flowers flatten out to form large, ruffled ‘helicopter landing pads’ for pond insects. Yellow flashes around the throat and a pattern of streaky white highlights help guide in pollinators and add to the flower’s beauty.

My pictures of Lincolnshire Pond Plants’ award-winning display were taken in a plant marquee at one of this year’s flower shows. Outdoors, I think the flowers would look a touch bluer.

Part of the fun of the shows is the chance to see unusual plants up close at their peak of flowering – in this case, without needing waders! The blooms struck me as being the iris versions of dinnerplate dahlias.

Shared for Cee’s Flower of the Day.