Lion King Japanese Iris
Iris ensata 'Lion King'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Lion King Japanese Iris - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H |
---|---|---|
$0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
$20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
$50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
$70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
$100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
$130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
$150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
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2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
#1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
#3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
---|---|---|
#5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
#6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
#7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Lion King Japanese Iris highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring, Summer

Growing Zones 4-9
Enjoy royal purple edging with the Lion King Iris (Iris ensata 'Lion King')! The two-tone bold contrasting hues stand out in any sunny area with showy petals that are pure white with a dramatic ribbon of feathered purple edging.
Lion King has an impressive stature as it displays a regal exhibition with its fully double, large blooms, and a tiny splash of yellow at the heart! This exotic flower is absolutely breathtaking when blooming. With its sword-like leaves and showy flowers, Lion King is an easy plant to maintain, requires minimum care, and readily multiplies!
Lion King produces showy flowers in late spring on rigid stems, and look great in the cut flower bouquet! Snip a few stalks off and add them to your kitchen bouquets! Deer and rabbits seldom bother with these plants! While Wildlife may not be interested, the pollinators will be! Butterflies will flutter from near and far for a taste of this cultivar's delightful nectar!
Planting and Application:
Iris is among the best-known and most-loved garden plants! Loving moisture, Lion King will make a great addition around pools, ponds, and water gardens, and in Rain Gardens. Just think about how well it will brighten the edge of a pond.
Use in massed plantings to fill large swaths in vivid color, and the clumps will grow together and snuff out weeds! Lion King can be used on difficult banks to prevent erosion, stabilize banks, and in wide drifts and rows throughout the landscape.
Showy in Pollinator gardens, mixed perennial borders, and turns any garden into a cutting garden! This Japanese Iris has huge ruffled petals, that are striking to behold!
- Snow White Blooms With Feathered Purple Edges
- Blooms Late-Spring to Early Summer!
- Clump-Forming Perennial Rhizomes
- Showy Cut Flowers & Pollinator Friendly
- Rain Gardens & Pollinator Gardens, Sunny Landscapes & Containers
#ProPlantTips For Care
Iris prefer full sun, but will tolerate a little afternoon shade, especially in hot growing zones of USDA 4 to 9. This Iris needs plenty of water access throughout the season along when planted in well-drained soil to look its best. Growing 3-4 feet tall when in bloom, the sword-shaped foliage spreads into clumps about 2 feet wide.
Provide regular moisture during the growing season and supplemental moisture during prolonged drought and heat. Top-dress with 3-4 inches of arborist mulch to regulate soil moisture and enrich the area as it breaks down.
Deadhead the flowers as they fade and trim back the foliage in the autumn. Every 3-5 years, divide the clumps and rearrange the rhizomes to keep them in tight formation and to prevent them from being buried too deeply, preferring to be planted more shallowly in the ground. The top 1/3 of each rhizome should be exposed and 2/3 of it should be below ground for best results. For the winter, loosely cover your Iris in a layer of clean leaves or evergreen boughs, straw or compost, pulling it back in the spring.
- Full Sun & Afternoon Shaded Locations
- Loves Moist to Average Moisture
- Well-Drained Rich Soil
- Deadhead After Flowers Fade & Trim Stems in Late Autumn
- Deer & Rabbit-Resistant
Popular and dependable, Lion King is an easily grown perennial Iris plant! If planted this year, it will be even bigger and better in a season or two! So start now and order yours at NatureHills.com!