Bicolor Iris
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Dietes bicolor
Dietes bicolor, often known as the African iris, hails from the lovely landscapes of South Africa. This charming evergreen perennial features rhizomes that resemble beardless irises. At its base, it develops delightful clumps of fan-shaped, narrow, sword-like evergreen leaves. Gorgeous flowers emerge on branched stalks, with blooms gracing us from spring through fall, and occasionally in winter in frost-free areas.
Each flower is a treat, lasting just a day but quickly welcoming a new one. They measure about 2 inches across, showcasing three lovely light yellow tepals adorned with charming dark brown blotches at their bases, along with three exquisite petal-like staminodes. Each flower stalk is generous, holding many buds and producing bursts of flowers every two weeks, earning it the delightful nickname of fortnight lily (despite not being a true lily!). Typically, these plants reach a height of about 2 feet, complete with an obovoid capsule for their fruit.
Within the iris family, the genus Iris graces temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, while Dietes thrives in certain frost-free corners of the Southern Hemisphere, with five species from Africa and one from Lord Howe Island east of Australia. Interestingly, Dietes was once a part of the genus Moraea but was set apart because Dietes grows from a rhizome, unlike Moraea's corm.
These resilient plants flourish in USDA Zones 9-11 and thrive best in moist, moderately fertile, well-drained soils, whether in full sun or part shade. For optimal blooming, full sun is ideal, although a touch of afternoon shade is appreciated. They can endure some dryness but prefer a consistent moisture level. To encourage even more blooms, simply remove seed pods as they start to form, and don't forget to cut each flower stem to the ground once it has finished its beautiful display.
Height: 1.5’-2'
Spread: .5’-1'
Bloom: May-September
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 8, 9, 10, 11
Origin: South Africa
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
