Dietes bicolor
yellow wild iris
An evergreen, rhizomatous perennial, up to 90cm tall, with pale green, leathery, narrowly-sword-shaped leaves and iris-like flowers, pale to dark yellow with three dark brown blotches, produced in spring and summer
Synonyms
Dietes compacta
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Brown Yellow | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Dietes are rhizomatous evergreen perennials forming loose clumps of leathery, linear or sword-shaped leaves, with erect stems bearing a succession of short-lived, iris-like flowers with 3 large outer segments and 3 small inner ones, in spring and summer
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a cool, frost-free greenhouse in full light with good ventilation. Use a loam-based potting compost, keeping just moist when dormant
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown at at 15°C in autumn or spring, or by dividing the rhizomes after flowering, though they many be difficult to establish
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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