Dietes grandiflora

How to grow African iris growing and care:

Well drained soil, prefer rich soil with organic material, better to fertilize before the blooming season but not must, if there is organic material no need of fertilize, when the plant young (in case of seeds or late planting) better to protect it in the winter in hardiness zone 8-10a

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seeds / Vegetative Reproduction propagation by daughter plants

Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
Yes

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Aggressive

Planting season:
Spring in hardiness zone 8, spring to summer in hardiness zone 9-10a, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10b-11, all year in hardiness zone 12+

Pests and diseases:
Leaf miner, spider mites

Pruning season:
All year, for reducing that amount of plant better to cut in the winter and better to pull the plant with the roots

How to prune:
Dead leaves and dead bloom stems, better not to cut leaves and bloom stems until dry because it has effect on the blooming

Size of the plant?
0.5-1 m, 20-40 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Small amount of water, possible to let it without water for a long period, but the plant prefer regular water especially in the blooming season but with good drainage

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun, can grow in less than full sun but then it will have less flowers

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, but in order to get flowers after few years need to check that the roots system not fill all the planter, if it’s full need to reduce that amount of plants or to increase the size of the container, except this need to pull old plants after having flowers, pruning the leaves and roots and reduce the amount of roots in the pots and let new roots to grow, every few need to check the soil that it’s still viable and if not take care of the soil by washing the old soil and put new, soil better to have potting mix or something similar.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring, summer, autumn

General information about the flower
Light purple almost white flowers, the flower has 6 petals in the outer circle 3 of the petals with yellow stipe in the base and the other 3 petals has brown-black dots in the base, , 3 petals in the inner circle in the color purple

How to grow Dietes grandiflora from seed

Sowing requirement:
Sunny location with good drainage, moist soil, 15-25C (59-77F), for not fresh seeds better to soak in water at least 12 hours

Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark place, better to keep in in the refrigerate before

Sowing season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone 8-11, possible all the year in hardiness zone 12+

Planting spacing:
20*30cm (8*12 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
0.5-1cm (0.25-0.5inches)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil with light humidity

Watering requires for Seeds:
First week big amount of water after reduce to average amount of water, keep soil moist but not over water and don’t let it dry

Germination time:
2-8 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Full sun, regularly water, keep the soil moist

Scientific name:

Dietes grandiflora

Alternative names: African iris, Wild iris, Butterfly iris, Fortnight lily