Wild Iris

Dietes grandiflora

Native to:
South Africa

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Iridaceae
Genus:
Dietes
Species:
Dietes grandiflora
USDA Symbol:
DIGR13

Growth Characteristics

Height:
120 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
white, yellow, purple

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rhizomes after fire; common in fire-prone South African grasslands and fynbos margins.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
native to coastal regions with sandy loam

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
21–60 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate best with warmth (20-25°C). Division is the more common propagation method as seed germination can be slow and erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI