Dietes bicolor (variously known as African iris or fortnight lily) is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial plant with long sword-like pale-green leaves, growing from multiple fans at the base of the clump. This species belongs to the Iridaceae (Iris) family. It can form large clumps if left undisturbed for years. This species is common in horticulture in its native South Africa, where it is often used in public gardens, beautification of commercial premises and along roadsides.
Provide regular watering -- about 1 inch of water per week -- during long periods of no rain. African irises are drought tolerant once established but grow best and produce better flowers when they receive water weekly.
The African iris prefers a fertile, moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to alkaline pH between 6.1 and 7.8. It thrives in loam, heavy clay or sandy soil. While the plants need regular watering for the first year, the African iris is somewhat drought tolerant once established in the garden.
In colder zones, grow African iris as an annual in containers. Overwinter containers indoors in a bright window, barely watering plants through winter. Alternately, place African iris in pots in a protected, cool and dark location, like a basement, and let plants go dormant in winter.
Iris toxicity is generally mild in humans, but in pets and cattle, it can cause serious illness and death. Symptoms of iris poisoning in pets vary in severity depending on amount of exposure and which part of the plant was ingested. This clumping, robust perennial has stiff leaves radiating up and out in a fan-shaped pattern. The flower spikes are topped with 3-inch white flowers marked with yellow and blue. African iris is also attractive when used as an accent planted in a shorter groundcover.
care-guidefungusguideMar 28 · 9 min readHow to Grow Magic Mushrooms?This is the only guide you’ll ever need to start growing psilocybin mushrooms. Buckle up and grab your wand, it’s time for a lesson in responsible herbology.
tipsfertilizingexplainerMay 4 · 5 min readHow to Use Coffee Grounds for Plants in Your GardenCoffee contains a lot of micronutrients and is used as an organic fertilizer for plants. But you can not just pour it into the soil, it is necessary to know all the nuances of such fertilizer.
growthlifehacksguideJan 10 · 7 min readFull Guide on DIY Banana Peel Water for PlantsBanana water is an easy and effective way to give your plants low doses of nutrients throughout the year. Continue reading to learn how to make banana fertilizer from ingredients you already have!
outdoor-growingoutdoorsgardenFeb 28 · 7 min readTop-Notch Guide on Plants that Repel Snakes NaturallySnakes are important parts of an ecosystem, as well as every other living being, but they might become unwanted guests in your garden.
lightpeace-lilylistFeb 22 · 7 min readBest Indoor Plants That Don’t Need SunlightMostly we place plants somewhere where they can get enough bright indirect or direct sunlight. But what to do if you want to make the dark corners of your house more alive?
