Another favourite indigenous (native) plant I have in my garden is Dietes or “wild Iris”. Perennial, evergreen plants which grow in large clumps, I have Dietes Grandiflora and Dietes Bicolor. Both are super easy to grow and care for, devoid it seems, of any attack by bugs and disease. I love the spikey upright foliage that remains a feature in the garden throughout the year and the flowers in spring and summer are delightful.
Dietes grandiflora
[one_half]Dietes Grandiflora
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[one_half_last]Dietes Grandiflora
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I am particularly fond of Dietes grandiflora with its bright white flowers, yellow/orange markings and purple central segments. The leaves are dark green and can reach up to 1.5 metres in length. The plant seems to flowers en-mass at certain periods, especially after rain in summer (hence all the rain droplets on my photos :)).
The individual flowers don’t last more than a few days but the plant bears so many flowers during the peak periods, that it really doesn’t matter. I have it growing in full sun as well as in partial shade – it does very well in my back shade garden and I highly recommend this plant to local gardeners – this one is a winner!
Dietes bicolor
[one_half]Dietes Bicolor
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[one_half_last]Dietes Bicolor
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Commonly known as Yellow Wild Iris or Peacock Flower, Dietes bicolor also forms clumps of erect sword-shaped leaves that provide a great foliage contrast in my garden. The flowers are about 60 mm in diameter, flat, light yellow with brown markings and only last a day, but it doesn’t really matter as it flowers non stop it seems, from about October through to May. It does well in a sunny position but is also thriving in my shaded back garden. Another winner for local gardeners!
Happy Gardening
xxx
4 replies on “Another favourite Native”
Stunning flowers and photo’s Christine!
You and Barbie may be interested in my latest posting… 🙂 (especially Barbie in the Swartland with summer approaching)
Christine: when you show these beautiful blooms, could you also include a shot of the plant itself? Seeing a single bloom close-up is great, but I’d also like to see what it will actually look like in a garden bed. Thanks!
Alan mine has just burst into such exuberant bloom that I battle to get it all on the camera. It grows like America’s walking onions, flings its arms out and roots from the elbow.
They say … the plant can anticipate rain, blooms before the rain actually arrives. HUH. We got almost a millimetre of rain. Thank you.
Christine those are to die for and they are native…how wonderful to have such beautiful natives…