Dietes
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-EE-teez
- Description
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Fortnight Lily is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial producing clumps of long, upright narrow leaves that reach 2 to 4 feet tall. The flowers rise above the foliage and look like small Japanese irises. Fortnight Lily produces many flowers from spring to late summer, with a fortnight (two weeks) of rest between each flowering period, thus the common name. It freely self-seeds, but you can prune the blossoms to reduce seed production.This plant looks amazing as a groundcover, in a potted container, or in a rock or woodland garden. It has grass-like features and dainty flowers that allow it to stand its own in any garden. Plus, it is low maintenance which can be a plus for any busy gardener. There are five species of Dietes, four from Africa and one species from Lord Howe Island east of Australia. The genus name comes from dis meaning double.
Best flowering occurs in full sun, but the plant does best with some part light afternoon shade. Fortnight Lily tolerates drought and some soil dryness, but you should provide regular moisture. The plant is winter hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11, but can be injured when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. (10 degrees C). In cooler climates it can be grown as an annual or you can dig up the rhizomes and store them indoors for winter. Potted plants can be brought indoors. In the garden, the plants do best in moist, moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. When planting, place the woody rhizomes 12 inches apart, 1 per square foot, and bury to a depth of 1 inch (2.5 cm).
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Nematodes are the main pest problem. Scales can cover the foliage and cause a severe problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Lemon Drops'
- 'Orange Drops'
- 'Lemon Drops'
- 'Lemon Drops', 'Orange Drops'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lemon Drops'
- 'Orange Drops'
- 'Lemon Drops'
- 'Lemon Drops', 'Orange Drops'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dietes
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in traditional medicine to treat cold, flu, headache, toothache, malaria, bruise and various infections.
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Ethiopia to South Africa
- Distribution:
- Hawaii, Australia, parts of the Caribbean and Mexico.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant
- Bulb Storage:
- Store rhizomes in peat or vermiculite at 41 to 50 degrees F (5-10 degrees C). Place container plants indoors at 50 to 65 degrees F (10-18 degrees C).
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Ground Cover
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Half to 1 inch obovoid capsule with several seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Three inch wide flowers are white with yellow and blue markings resembling a small Japanese Iris. Flowers appear on branched stalks from spring to fall and intermittently throughout winter. Flowers last one day, but are quickly replaced. Each flower stalk carries a large supply of buds. Flowering occurs in bloom bursts that often occur at 2 week intervals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow, sword-shaped, basal, evergreen iris-like leaves in fan-shaped clumps.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought