Wild iris (Fairy iris)

Dietes grandiflora

Evergreen South African clump-forming iris relative with stiff sword-like grey-green leaves and elegant white-and-yellow flowers marked with mauve, opening in flushes through warm months.

Hardiness ratings

Wild iris (Fairy iris) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 8–11 −12.2 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H3 −5 °C to 1 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 9 −1 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 3–7 −5 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Native to the eastern coast of South Africa — adapted to wide range of soils and conditions
  • Drought tolerant, evergreen, virtually indestructible — among the toughest plants for hot dry borders and public landscaping
  • Each flower lasts only a day, but plants flush every 2–3 weeks through warm months
  • Distinct from true iris (Iris spp.) — Dietes is a separate genus, also called butterfly iris

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Wild iris (Fairy iris) against your zones

Reference

Wild iris (Fairy iris) on Wikipedia