Botanical name: Dietes Bicolor
Common Name: Peacock flower, Wild iris
Height: 1 m
Width: 1.5 m
Light: Full sun / light shade
Growth rate: Fast
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil
Flowers: Pale creamy yellow with dark brown spots, shaped like iris flowers
Origin: South Africa
Garden Theme:
There are 5 main species of wild iris:
- Dietes Bicolor
- D. Butcheriana
- D. Flavida
- D. Grandiflora
- D. Iridioides
All the species make a visually pleasing garden and landscaping plants. Especially the Dietes Bicolor and the Dietes Grandiflora.
The Dietes Bicolor is a grass-like, clumping plant. They have lime green, long, narrow leaves that frow from multiple fans produced from the base of the clump. They flower in the Spring and Summer showing a lemon colouring in the centre of the petals, with a dark purple spot complete with an orange ring surrounding.
Dietes Bicolor is perfect for planting in a massed effect in well-drained and moist soil. They only require little water and can be trimmed back if overgrows. Perfect low maintenance plant can grow in full sun or part shade. They can tolerate tough conditions and can continue to flower for several years.
HOW TO GARDEN WITH WILD IRIS
The amazing thing about the Dietes Bicolor that they can be used in your garden in lots of ways.
4 ideas on ways to use these plants in your garden can include the following:
- Mass Planted
This is a beautiful way in which can brighten up your garden. As they’re low water usage plants, when mass bloomed they are enchanting during a long flowering season.
- Under trees
Wild Iris may not flower well under shady conditions although this plant can satisfactorily grow under trees even with the competition for water and nutrients from the roots of the trees.
- On slopes
Wild Iris is a fast-growing plant that have vigorous root systems. They can be planted on slopes to make an attractive focal point to contrast against low growing plantings.
- As accent plants
The plants individually can be used in mixed borders, or in pairs elsewhere such as on either side of a bench, entrance to pathways or at the top of steppers.
TIPS FOR GROWING
Follow these recommended tips on how to grow your Wild Iris, to ensure you get many years out of the beautiful plant.
- Plant in full sun or partial shade for full growing ability
- The plant can survive in tough living conditions, however for best performance plant in well-drained soil that’s rich in organic material
- Fertilise the soil with a general balanced fertiliser
- During dry spells, water twice a month
- These plants flower for several years. Do not remove the flower stems
FAVOURITES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Given there are up to nearly 300 species of Wild Iris, depending on your location and own personal style of garden the Wild Iris can be an excellent addition to your home.
Some additional favourites including the Dietes Bicolor to consider can include:
- DIETES BICOLOR:
This beautiful yellow flower has pale yellow blooms in the summer. The drought-resistant flower grows naturally near streams in the wild. It is easy to grow and can grow fast. Partial shade is where it grows best with access to some full sun. - DIETES GRANDIFLORA:
This species of the wild iris is much larger and has spectacular large white flowers which are marked yellow and violet colours in the spring and summer. It can grow both in the sun and in partial shade. Similar to the Dietes Bicolor it is also tolerant of drought and frost, although it does need to be well watered in the summer. - Dieted IRIDIOIDES:
Best for difficult parts of the garden, the rapidly spreading species grows to a height of 50cm and can cover the ground excellently. Their flowers are similar to the Dietes Grandiflora but much smaller. Again, similar to the other species it can grow in sun and partial shade. Although this flower cannot tolerate frost, lower temperatures can be tolerated if it is not a regular occurrence.
For more information on outdoor plants, please contact our team of professional landscapers based in Seaford here.