Dietes Bicolor

Dietes bicolor is a variety of Iris grown for its impressive flowers. It produces white, or sometimes light yellow, flowers that have three distinct, dark purple spots. Dietes bicolor, the African iris, fortnight lily or yellow wild iris, is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial plant with long sword-like evergreen pale green leaves, growing from multiple fans at the base of the clump. This species belongs to the iris family Iridaceae.

This typically grows to 70cm tall and 40cm wide, performing best when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well drained site. It is tolerant of wind, frost, cool climates and dry periods with storage roots enabling it to regrow and expand each year.

This iris is commonly used in cottage gardens, public gardens, mixed planting, borders or mass planted on a bank.