Dietes bicolor (Steud.) Sweet ex Klatt
yellow wild iris, peacock flower · uintjie, poublom (Afr.)
Clumping yellow wild iris that flowers for months and tolerates poor soil, drought and wet spots.
What’s in the name: Dietes: Greek for "two relatives", as it sits between Iris and Moraea; bicolor: "two-coloured".
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series (1841), Project Gutenberg
Available from AVNPlants: see the availability list.
Family
Iridaceae
Conservation status
Rare, SANBI Red List of South African Plants
Natural distribution & habitat
Naturally found around Bathurst in the Eastern Cape, near streams and in marshy places.
Size & form
Evergreen clump of upright, sword-shaped light green leaves, about 1 m tall and wide.
Flowering
October to January; each flower lasts a day but buds keep coming.
Uses in landscaping
- Accent plant by ponds, steps, paths and entrances
- Groundcover or mass planting
- Rehab of poor subsoil after earthworks; drought-resistant and frost-hardy
Care notes
Grows in poor soil with little water, or in damp sites. Full sun, or part shade in hot inland gardens. Best with compost and regular water. Multiplies quickly for division.
Wildlife value
Nectar-producing flowers, probably bee-pollinated.
Find out more
Facts checked against: SANBI PlantZAfrica species page 'Dietes bicolor'; SANBI Red List of South African Plants, Dietes bicolor (Steud.) Sweet ex Klatt (assessment 2008/09/15).