Dierama pulcherrimum Merlin

Dierama pulcherrimum 'Merlin' is a recent variety of angel's fishing rod, which has attracted a lot of attention during its appearance. Vigorous and floriferous, this plant also withstands the cold better and is unusual with the very dark colour of its flowers.  Trembling like a grass, this tall variety forms a clump of grass-like leaves from which long, flexible and arching flower stems emerge in summer, bearing delightful pendulous bell-shaped flowers in dark violet-purple colour with black reflections. Dierama is a somewhat delicate plant: plant it in a sunny spot in light, sandy and moist soil in summer, drier in winter, and protect it from heavy frosts. Its exceptional beauty is well worth attempting to acclimatise it to the garden!

Dierama pulcherrimum is a slow-growing perennial plant with corms, belonging to the Iridaceae family. This perennial is native to the wet and marshy meadows of East Africa and South Africa. Its vegetation persists more or less in winter depending on the climate. The 'Merlin' variety is hardy down to about -10°C (14°F), in very well-draining soil. It looks a bit like a grass, with an erect clump of green leaves reaching at least 50 cm (20in) in height and, after many years, 1 m (3ft) in diameter at the base. In summer, from July to August, long, slender and sturdy flower stems, reaching 1 m (3ft) to 1.20 m (4ft) in height, emerge from the foliage, gracefully bending under the weight of the flowers. They bear branched spikes of bell-shaped or tubular flowers, 6 cm (2in) long, which bloom one after the other. The nectar-rich flowers attract many pollinating insects. The pollinated flowers give way to small ovoid capsules containing numerous small, hard brown seeds, which will germinate after the winter cold. Plants grown from seed will flower after 5 to 7 years of cultivation.

Invite 'Merlin' Dierama to your garden as it deserves a prominent place planted in a large pot on the patio, placed in isolation, along a pathway, or in a bed not far from water. Dierama pulcherrimum is very well suited to coastal areas where it appreciates the humid atmosphere and can withstand the salty sea breeze. This plant looks stunning in a bed alongside grasses (Miscanthus, Eragrostis, Panicum), Phormium, lychnis, or along a pathway, especially when the light shines through its flowered vegetation from behind. Near a pond, it can be paired, for example, with loosestrifes, lamb's ears, purple phormium, Gomphostigma virgatum Silver Butterfly, or even meadow rues (Thalictrum delavayi, Thalictrum flavum ssp. Glaucum).