African iris (Dietes iridioides)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Grass/Grass-like
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Plant Height:	18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm)
Plant Spread:	12 to 36 inches (30-90 cm)
Leaves:	Evergreen
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	White Multi-Color
Flower Time:	Spring Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall
Uses:	Groundcover
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Butterflies
Resistances:	Deer Resistant
Toxicity:	Roots are poisonous
Propagation: Other methods:	Division
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Common names

African iris
Cape Iris
Dietes
Wild Iris
Fortnight Lily
Morea Lily

Botanical names

Accepted: Dietes iridioides
Synonym: Moraea iridioides

Photo Gallery

Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2022-03-26

Uploaded by scvirginia

Location: Our Yard, DeLand, FL
Date: 2012-03-27

Uploaded by rocklady

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2020-04-10

Uploaded by sunkissed

Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Date: July
Dietes iridioides

Uploaded by BellaKelly

Location: Pennsylvania
Date: 2022-06-05
Dietes iridioides

Uploaded by AudreyDee

Location: North Louisiana
Date: 2004-11-25

Uploaded by deepsouth

Location: North Louisiana
Date: Early Spring
African Iris

Uploaded by deepsouth

Uploaded by deepsouth

Date: c. 1819
illustration [as Moræa iridioides] by P. Bessa from 'Herbier Gé

Uploaded by scvirginia

Uploaded by longk

Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: 2014-03-29

Uploaded by Fleur569

Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-15

Uploaded by OldGardener

Location: Slavia, Florida, United States
Date: 2019-12-30

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Date: c.1805
illustration [as Moræa iridoides] by P.J. Redouté from his 'Les

Uploaded by scvirginia

Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-06-18

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-10-21
Proliferation

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Uploaded by OldGardener

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2014-04-14

Uploaded by sunkissed

Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-04

Uploaded by OldGardener

Uploaded by OldGardener

Location: zone 8 North Central, Fl.
Date: 2017-12-17

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-16

Uploaded by OldGardener

Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-04
Over 3 foot diameter

Uploaded by OldGardener

Comments:

Posted by OldGardener (So Cal - Zone 10b) on Jul 16, 2014 9:27 AM concerning plant:

Many plants sold as Dietes iridioides are actually Dietes grandiflora. D. grandiflora has dark, brownish markings on the inner tepals but D. iridioides does not.

African iris (Dietes iridioides)
Uploaded by OldGardener

Butterfly Iris (Dietes grandiflora)
Uploaded by flaflwrgrl

A very special "thank you" to Evan for posting the photos!

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Posted by OldGardener (So Cal - Zone 10b) on Jul 16, 2014 1:04 PM concerning plant:

Do NOT remove the stem that bloomed as it will bloom next year. Each stem blooms for multiple years.

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Posted by sunkissed (Central Florida - Zone 9b) on Apr 27, 2016 2:30 PM concerning plant:

This plant grows very well in Central Florida, so well that it is used in landscaping often. It flowers off and on for most of the year, especially spring through fall. Drought tolerant once established. Great for a sunny location.

Reply to this comment

Posted by OldGardener (So Cal - Zone 10b) on Jun 26, 2014 8:55 PM concerning plant:

Older clumps can get considerably larger than listed. I just divided a 10 year old clump this evening that was a little more than 3' wide.

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Posted by longk (Oxford UK - Zone 8a) on Mar 16, 2017 5:10 PM concerning plant:

This did not prove hardy enough to survive here in the UK unlike my D.bicolor despite being the larger and stronger looking plant.

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Plant Events from our members
flaflwrgrl	On July 4, 2014	Potted up Added alfalfa to feed it.
MrsBinWY	On May 7, 2017	Seeds germinated 2
MrsBinWY	On April 2, 2017	Seeds sown milk jug, room temp, all 20 seeds from ishareflowers

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Dietes African iris (Dietes iridioides)

Dietes
African iris (Dietes iridioides)