Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.

Dietes grandiflora - Fortnight lily

Dietes grandiflora
Fortnight lily, Large Wild Iris, Fairy Iris

2 reviews
5,0/5
2 reviews
0 reviews
0 reviews
0 reviews
0 reviews

Excellent transaction!

Nieves Del Volga A., 12/10/2018

Leave a review → View all reviews →

Why not try an alternative variety in stock?

  2. Bellis perennis - Common Daisy Seeds
    Bellis perennis - Common Daisy Seeds
    Available to order
    2,50 € Seeds

  3. Ammi visnaga - Toothpick plant
    Ammi visnaga - Toothpick plant
    13
    2,50 € Seeds

  4. Orlaya grandiflora
    Orlaya grandiflora
    40
    5,50 € Seeds

  5. Helipterum Pierrot - Everlasting
    Helipterum Pierrot - Everlasting
    28
    2,90 € Seeds

  6. Snowcloud Garden Valerian Seeds - Centranthus ruber
    Snowcloud Garden Valerian Seeds - Centranthu…
    169
    -50% 1,25 € 2,50 € Seeds

  7. Moluccella laevis - seeds
    Moluccella laevis - seeds
    Available to order
    3,90 € Seeds

  8. Achillea ptarmica Double Diamond - Yarrow
    Achillea ptarmica Double Diamond - Yarrow
    Available to order
    3,90 € Seeds

  9. Echinacea purpurea White Swan - Purple Coneflower
    Echinacea purpurea White Swan - Purple Conef…
    29
    2,50 € Seeds

  11. Physalis alkekengi Seeds - Chinese lantern
    Physalis alkekengi Seeds - Chinese lantern
    Available to order
    4,90 € Seeds

  12. Ipomoea alba - Evening Glory
    Ipomoea alba - Evening Glory
    Available to order
    2,50 € Seeds

  13. Lathyrus latifolius White Pearl - Sweet Pea Seeds
    Lathyrus latifolius White Pearl - Sweet Pea …
    15
    3,90 € Seeds

  14. Leucanthemum vulgare - Oxeye Daisy seeds
    Leucanthemum vulgare - Oxeye Daisy seeds
    21
    5,50 € Seeds

  15. Alcea rosea Chater’s Double Icicle - Hollyhock
    Alcea rosea Chater’s Double Icicle - Hollyho…
    21
    3,50 € Seeds

View all →

Shipping country:

Select delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Value-for-money
This dietes is a vigorous, perennial, evergreen, rhizomatous plant. It flowers from March to June with numerous white flowers marked with mauve and orange-yellow, above large clumps of iris-like leaves. The flowers are short-lived, but many buds will ensure their renewal. This somewhat tender plant likes humus-rich, well-drained soils, and thrives in full sun or partial shade.
Flower size
10 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Annual / Perennial
Perennial
Germination time (days)
18 days
plantfit-full

Would this plant suit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Sowing period March to May
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time April to June
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

Dietes grandiflora, also known as African Iris, is also called Fairy Iris. It is a perennial evergreen rhizomatous plant with significant growth. It flowers from March to June, bearing numerous 10 cm (4in) diameter, white flowers with mauve and orange-yellow markings, above large clumps of sword-like leaves similar to irises. The flowers are short-lived, but many buds ensure their renewal. This somewhat tender plant likes humus-rich, well-drained soil, and full sun or partial shade.

 

Dietes grandiflora, or large-flowered dietes, is a plant from the iris family native to South Africa. It grows naturally on slopes along the coast, or on forest edges. This tall perennial develops from strong creeping rhizomes, forming clumps of 1m (3ft) in all directions, which increase over time.

The flowers appear from March to June in great numbers on tall flower spikes. They are relatively large and open into corollas with 6 petals, reaching about ten centimetres in diameter. The inner tepals are white, marked with orange-yellow spots in the centre. These spots are nectar guides, guiding pollinating insects towards food. The outer tepals and central segments are washed with violet. They only live for a few hours but are produced in large numbers. They are followed by an upright fruit, in the form of a 4 cm (2in) capsule that releases brown and shiny seeds.

The evergreen leaves are shiny, medium green, ribbon-like and sword-shaped, arranged in a fan, like garden irises. They can measure up to 1 m (3ft) long and 20 mm (1in) wide.

 

The large-flowered dietes is hardy to -7°C. Its cold resistance is directly linked to soil moisture. Under optimal conditions, it can withstand -10°C. For this reason, it can be planted in the ground in mild climate regions where it can form beautiful and very floriferous hedges. In colder areas, it is more often grown in large pots that it will quickly fill. This allows the plants to be stored in winter.

 

Dietes were previously classified in the genus Moraea. The genus Dietes was created to highlight the difference in growth habit of these plants, which have rhizomes and not true bulbs. 'Dietes' means 'having two parents': the Iris and the Moraea. Grandiflora simply means 'large-flowered'.

 

 

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time April to June
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 10 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Annual
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 60 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Dietes

Species

grandiflora

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

Fortnight lily, Large Wild Iris, Fairy Iris

Origin

South Africa

Other Thompson and Morgan seeds

  1. Cynara cardunculus
    Cynara cardunculus
    37
    2,50 € Seeds

  4. Aquilegia caerulea - Columbine
    Aquilegia caerulea - Columbine
    15
    5,50 € Seeds

  5. Lathyrus odoratus Sweet Dreams - Sweet Pea Seed Mix
    Lathyrus odoratus Sweet Dreams - Sweet Pea S…
    Out of stock
    6,50 € Seeds

  9. French Lavender Seeds - Lavandula stoechas
    French Lavender Seeds - Lavandula stoechas
    14
    4,90 € Seeds

  11. Calendula officinalis Porcupine Seeds - Pot Marigold
    Calendula officinalis Porcupine Seeds - Pot …
    Available to order
    3,90 € Seeds

  12. Rudbeckia hirta Caramel mixed
    Rudbeckia hirta Caramel mixed
    8
    5,90 € Seeds

  13. Ratibida columnifera - Mexican Hat
    Ratibida columnifera - Mexican Hat
    Out of stock
    3,90 € Seeds

  14. Petunia Purple Tower F1 Hybrid Seeds
    Petunia Purple Tower F1 Hybrid Seeds
    2
    5,90 € Seeds

  16. Viola tricolor Seeds - Hearts ease
    Viola tricolor Seeds - Hearts ease
    18
    5,90 € Seeds

  18. Salvia farinacea Fairy Queen
    Salvia farinacea Fairy Queen
    29
    4,50 € Seeds

  19. Amaranthus caudatus Fat Spike - Love-Lies-Bleeding
    Amaranthus caudatus Fat Spike - Love-Lies-Bl…
    21
    2,50 € Seeds

  20. Amaranthus caudatus Pony Tails Mixed - Love-Lies-Bleeding
    Amaranthus caudatus Pony Tails Mixed - Love-…
    90
    -50% 1,25 € 2,50 € Seeds

Planting and care

The large-flowered dietes is easy to grow from fresh seeds, sown in spring which will germinate in warmth, in well-moistened soil.

Sow from February to April.

Dietes seeds germinate on the surface of well-draining seed compost. Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Maintain a temperature between 15 and 20 degrees (59 and 68°F) Celsius. Germination can take 1 to 3 months. Transplant the young plants when they are large enough to handle, into 8 cm (3in) diameter pots. They will need to spend the winter in a cool and well-lit room.

Plant the following spring, with a spacing of 90 cm (35in) between each plant.

Cultivation:

Choose a sunny exposure, neutral to acidic soil which is fertile but not excessively, to encourage flowering and moist but well-draining. Dietes grandiflora needs a lot of water in spring and summer. However, the soil should be well-draining. The plant will not tolerate soil moisture when it is cold, as this causes the rhizomes to rot. Its cold resistance is directly linked to soil drainage. Under good conditions, it can withstand -10 degrees (14°F) Celsius in fairly dry soil.

Sowing period

Sowing period March to May
Germination time (days) 18 days

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Free-standing, Container, Conservatory
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Experienced
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil moisture Moist soil, Draining, humus-bearing, rich
5/5
2 reviews
No reviews
No reviews
No reviews
No reviews

Flower seeds

  1. Any Soil Seed Mix
    Any Soil Seed Mix
    Out of stock
    5,90 € Tin

    Available in 2 sizes

  2. Love-in-a-mist African Bride Seeds - Nigella papillosa
    Love-in-a-mist African Bride Seeds - Nigella…
    13
    2,40 € Seeds

  3. Flower mix for challenging soil
    Flower mix for challenging soil
    39
    5,90 € Seeds

    Available in 3 sizes

  4. Aquilegia McKana Giants Mix Seeds - Columbine
    Aquilegia McKana Giants Mix Seeds - Columbine
    6
    1,90 € Seeds

  6. Bee Seed Mix
    Bee Seed Mix
    Out of stock
    5,90 € Tin

    Available in 2 sizes

  7. Flower mix to limit slugs
    Flower mix to limit slugs
    3
    10,90 € Seeds

  8. Callistephus chinensis Unicum
    Callistephus chinensis Unicum
    4
    1,90 € Seeds

  9. Lathyrus odoratus White Ensign - Sweet Pea Seeds
    Lathyrus odoratus White Ensign - Sweet Pea S…
    7
    2,50 € Seeds

  10. Lobelia erinus Cascade - Trailing Lobelia
    Lobelia erinus Cascade - Trailing Lobelia
    Out of stock
    2,40 € Seeds

  12. French Marigold Orange Flame Seeds - Tagetes patula
    French Marigold Orange Flame Seeds - Tagetes…
    26
    1,60 € Seeds

  14. Les Lutins' Terrace-side Seed Mix
    Les Lutins' Terrace-side Seed Mix
    2
    5,90 € Tin

  15. My Fragrant Garden seed mix
    My Fragrant Garden seed mix
    Out of stock
    5,90 € Tin

  16. Lobelia erinus Emperor William Seeds
    Lobelia erinus Emperor William Seeds
    9
    2,40 € Seeds

  17. Zinnia elegans Envy Double Seeds
    Zinnia elegans Envy Double Seeds
    Available to order
    4,50 € Seeds

  18. Lathyrus odoratus Royal Mix - Sweet Pea Seeds
    Lathyrus odoratus Royal Mix - Sweet Pea Seeds
    15
    1,90 € Seeds

  19. Anagallis monelli Blue Noon - Blue Pimpernel seeds
    Anagallis monelli Blue Noon - Blue Pimpernel…
    Out of stock
    1,90 € Seeds

  20. Phlox drummondii Sugar Stars
    Phlox drummondii Sugar Stars
    12
    5,50 € Seeds

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Let's find plants fitting with your garden!