Dierama pendulum

RHS Plant Profile
grassy bells

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grassy bells RHS

Other common names

wandflower

Synonyms

Dierama ensifolium

Bulbs Herbaceous Perennial
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An evergreen perennial with narrow leaves to 50cm long, and arching flower stems to 1m bearing drooping panicles of flaring, bell-shaped pink flowers with papery brown bracts. A less substantial plant than D. pulcherrimum

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Dierama are evergreen, clump-forming cormous perennials with long, narrow leaves and slender arching stems bearing nodding, bell-shaped flowers in summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S Africa (E.Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, well-drained soil in a sheltered situation with full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. They may resent disturbance so leave until really congested before division of clumps in spring. Do not allow the corms to dry out. They may take 1-2 years to flower freely again

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Tidy any winter-damaged foliage by cutting to the base in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free