New growth begins in mid-March in upper zone 9a. Dietes iridioides subsp. A number of years ago, Dietes was thought to be part of the genus Moraea; in fact my ancient copy of Sunset Western Garden… Moraea grandiflora is a choice plant for a sheltered spot in the Texas garden. Design Ideas The flowers of Fortnight Lily glow in the dark and look exotic in tropical gardens--despite the plant's tolerance of a hard frost. More gardeners are growing a Dietes iris (Dietes iridioides) than in the past, especially in USDA hardiness zones 8b and higher.Dietes cultivation is growing more popular because of the plant’s attractive, stiff, spiky foliage and multiple, showy blooms. Both 'Lemon Drops' and 'Orange Drops' are hybrids of Dietes bicolor and resemble it save for flower color. Klatt; Includes 6 Accepted Species. Dietes iridioides Butterfly iris is a evergreen clump forming perennial. Lemon Drops is ivory with yellow blotches, 'Orange Drops' ivory with orange blotches. Dietes iridioides - butterfly iris, wild iris. In the past we were to be included in that group but have since learned the errors of our ways. USES: Companion planting, erosion control, weed suppression, low maintenance gardens, landscaping, borders and edging, waterway banks. The genus Dietes (wild iris) is a perennial evergreen which used to be included with Moraea (another member of the iris family) but was separated owing to the nature of its growth.Dietes do not have corms as are found in Moraea, but have a rhizome.. Like the species this selection has yellow flowers with brownish maroon blotches at the base of the petals but this form was selected for its larger and darker yellow flowers. DESCRIPTION: Clumping compact grassy plant with white butterfly-like flowers on long stems. The flowers are even larger than those of the better-known Dietes. Profuse bloomer; blooms last only one day but are quickly replaced. Results: Two new subspecies in Dietes are described, viz. It is one of the best all-purpose plants for beds and borders, where it functions a lot like an Iris, but with a much longer bloom period. Family Iridaceae . It has long dark green sword like leaves. Genus Dietes are rhizomatous evergreen perennials forming loose clumps of leathery, linear or sword-shaped leaves, with erect stems bearing a succession of short-lived, iris-like flowers with 3 large outer segments and 3 small inner ones, in spring and summer Dietes iridioides (L.) Sweet ex Klatt; Dietes robinsoniana (F.Muell.) Plants in the open have died completely at 18° F while plants under tree canopy died to the ground and resprouted in spring. Light Needs. Synonyms Dietes grandiflora 'Reen Lelie' . As is true for their other parent, Dietes iridioides, these hybrids' flower stems last more than a year; for care see Dietes iridioides. Dietes grandiflora is often labeled mistakenly as Dietes vegeta in the Coastal Southeast. The long, rigid, sword-shaped leaves, held in a fan shape, are dark green and may reach up to 1 m long and 15-20 mm wide. From spring through till autumn it produces white iris like flowers with yellow and mauve markings. The cultivars known as 'Orange Drops' and 'Lemon Drops' are Dietes hybrids. KB; Synonyms. Dietes is a genus of 6 species of rhizomatous plants in the family Iridaceae, native to southern and central Africa, with the exception of one species, the Dietes robinsoniana, which is endemic to Lord Howe Island off the coast of Australia. Dietes bicolor has fewer, larger, more tidy leaves and more rounded white flowers with a violet/brown spot.
Exotic white flowers with yellow and purple-blue markings burst from stalks amid stiff, iris-like, evergreen foliage. CARE: Drought and frost hardy so little maintenance is needed after initial care. African Iris Dietes iridioides. Bibliography. Naron Medik. and D. iridioides, are widely cultivated in parts of the world where the climate is suitable, both in gardens and in street and park plantings. USE IN: Ideal used as a border and edging plant or throughout rockeries.Also perfect for steep embankments, erosion control, and underplanting.
Other common names fairy iris . ex Klatt appears in other Kew resources: IPNI - The International Plant Names Index. Dietes Salisb. LOCATION: Plant in a full sun to partly shaded position in the garden.. Tolerates most soil conditi The two that did survive are doing well and blooming in full … The local species grow mainly in the eastern summer rainfall regions of South Africa and Swaziland. Dietes grandiflora N.E.Br. KB; Other Data. They flower heavily in June and July. Dietes produces narrow, sword-like foliage and large iris-like flowers on tall wiry stems. I bought 4 of these African Iris that were marked Dietes vegata, but turned out to be Dietes bicolor.