Dietes bicolor

yellowafricanirisfull
(Photo by Ebony Armstrong)

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Taxonomy (3)

Classification: Angiosperm, monocot
Family: Iridaceae
Common name: Yellow African Iris, Peacock flower

General Information (1,2,3,4,5,6)

Region of Origin: South Africa
USDA Plants Hardiness Zones: 9-11
Growth Habit: Herb

  • Size: 3 feet
  • Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen
  • Flowering: Spring to fall

Diagnostic Characteristics

Leaves (1,3,4,5)

  • Shape: Linear
  • Other: Margins entire

yellowafricanirisleaf
(Photo by Ebony Armstrong)

Flower (1,4,5)

  • Color: Pale yellow to white
  • Other: Tepals have dark markings that are outlined in orange

yellowafricanirisflower
(Photo by Ebony Armstrong)

Fruit (1,2,4)

  • Fruit type: Capsule

yellowafricanirisfruit
(Photo by Ebony Armstrong)

Horticultural Information (2,5,6)

  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • pH: 5.6-7.8
  • Landscape Uses: Container, border, hedge, ground cover
  • Other: Drought tolerant, not salt tolerant

References

1) Brickell, C. and Cole, T.J. (2002). Encyclopedia of plants & flowers. American Horticultural Society
2) Gilman, Edward F. (2012). Dietes bicolor: evergreen iris. University of Florida IFAS Extension.  Edis.ifas.ufl.edu
3) Goldblatt, Peter. (1981). Systematics, phylogeny and evolution of Dietes (Iridaceae). Annuals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 68(1): pp132-53 http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/2398817.pdf
4) Stang, David. (2012). Dietes bicolor. Zipcodezoo.com. zipcodezoo.com/Plants/D/Dietes_bicolor/
5) Unknown. (2013). Fortnight Lily. Monrovia. www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1855/fornight-lily.php
6) Unknown. Dietes bicolor. Missouri Botanical Garden. www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/b969/dietes-bicolor.aspx

Prepared by Ebony Armstrong as a course requirement for BIOL 3630/5630, Spring 2013
Edited by Jessica Bartek