Cape 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

Cape Iris
African 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

By scvirginia

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

By sunkissed

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

By rocklady

Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Date: July
Dietes iridioides

By BellaKelly

Location: North Louisiana
Date: 2004-11-25

By deepsouth

Location: North Louisiana
Date: Early Spring
African Iris

By deepsouth

By deepsouth

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

By scvirginia

By longk

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

By Fleur569

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

By OldGardener

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

By BlueOddish

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

By scvirginia

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

By flaflwrgrl

By flaflwrgrl

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

By flaflwrgrl

By OldGardener

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

By sunkissed

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

By OldGardener

By OldGardener

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

By flaflwrgrl

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

By OldGardener

By flaflwrgrl

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

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.

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 (Winter Springs, FL - 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.

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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 Cape Iris (Dietes iridioides)

Dietes
Cape Iris (Dietes iridioides)