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Dietes - bulbs
Scientific:
Dietes
Bulbs/Pack:
rhizomes
Planting Time:
When available but avoid hard freeze
Shipping Period:
When Available
Bloom Period:
Spring through Fall
Bloom Size:
Quarter-size bloom
Zones:
8 - 11
Color:
Look at the options
Planting Depth:
1 inch deep
Soil:
well drained but tolerates clay
Light:
Full Sun to Very Light Shade
Height:
2-3 feet
Wildlife:
Resistant
Reliability:
Very Reliable
$15.00
Dietes may look like a delicate iris, but don’t be fooled—this bulb is tough and low-maintenance for zones 8-11. It surprises gardeners with fresh blooms every few weeks—especially after rain. Easy to grow, deer-resistant, and evergreen in warm climates, it’s one of the most reliable performers you can plant. It’s a smart choice for sunny beds, borders, and even drought-tolerant gardens. The white Dietes is also known as "White African Iris" or "Fortnight Lily" while the Bicolor one has been called "Yellow Wild Iris" and "Butterfly Iris." This rhizome works great in borders, mass plantings or as an ornamental plant placed around your garden beds.
What to expect: In zone 8, this rhizome may go semi-dormant or slow down its growth during the winter. The foliage may even die back for a bit after a hard frost, but it won't take long for it to recover and begin growing again. This rhizome is actively growing and blooming in zones 8-11 from Spring through the Fall! The summer is its showtime! Foliage will get 2-3 feet tall and little blooms will appear every 2-3 weeks!
**This is one of the reasons it is called a "Fortnight Lily" - because it is known to bloom every couple of weeks (14 days = fortnight).
Planting Requirements - Sun and Water: These rhizomes do best in well-drained soil, but they can tolerate some clay. They are extremely drought-resistant once they are established, but they perform better with occasional deep watering during a drought. Plant the rhizomes just about 1" or less deep. This helps them flower more freely and avoid rot. Space the rhizomes about 18-24" apart to allow room for spreading and clump development. Zone 8 prefers full sun; zones 9-11 can tolerate a couple hours summer shade, but really they love full summer sun! If they get too much shade, they will still grow well, but you will see fewer flowers.
Winter -- In zone 8 (and 9 if it looks like there will be a hard multi-day freeze) consider mulching around the base to protect the rhizomes from the freezing temperatures. Once the last frost has occured, remove the mulch since the rhizomes like to be near the surface of the soil. At that time, also remove any dead or damaged foliage.
Blooms and Foliage: The Dietes grows best in full summer sun and comes in pure white blooms or bicolor (which is a pale yellow). The foliage is one of the Dietes standout features. It is both beautiful and funtional growing 2-3 feet tall. The foliage is a deep green with long vertical swarod-like leaves. It is smooth and upright. It has been compared to a graceful arching fan. The foliage is an evergreen in zones 9-11, but it may die back slightly in zone 8 after a hard frost. This interesting foliage will add structure to your garden bed. It provides a grass-like effect in mass plantings or pairs beautifully with more mounded or airy plants like salvias.
The blooms will begin around April or May in zone 8 (depending on the last frost), peak in early summer, and then continue sporadically throughout the summer and into early fall (especially if it rains or is being watered through irrigation). These are an evergreen in zones 9-11 and should provide sporadic blooms most of the year.
Tips to Maximize Blooms:
-
Give full sun for the best flowering (they’ll tolerate part shade, but bloom less)
-
Water moderately—while drought-tolerant, occasional deep watering helps trigger blooms
-
Deadhead or trim spent flower stalks to encourage new flushes
Mulitplying: Plan on dividing the Dietes every 3-4 years to keep plants healthy. You will have lots to share with friends and family. It is best to divide these in late winter or early spring before new growth begins or after flowering in the fall in zones 10 and 11.
- Dig up the clump gently
- Separte the rhizomes by hand (each division will need several leaves and roots)
- Replant immediately at the same depth, spacing about 18-24" apart.
Animals: Bees are drawn to these little open flowers. Butterflies may occasionally visit especially if there a few nectar options available. Deer, squirrels, rabbits tend to avoid as the foliage is tough and fibrous (though deer have been known to eat plastic flowers). It is not toxic to your pets who are rarely interested in it either.
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Details
Dietes may look like a delicate iris, but don’t be fooled—this bulb is tough and low-maintenance for zones 8-11. It surprises gardeners with fresh blooms every few weeks—especially after rain. Easy to grow, deer-resistant, and evergreen in warm climates, it’s one of the most reliable performers you can plant. It’s a smart choice for sunny beds, borders, and even drought-tolerant gardens. The white Dietes is also known as "White African Iris" or "Fortnight Lily" while the Bicolor one has been called "Yellow Wild Iris" and "Butterfly Iris." This rhizome works great in borders, mass plantings or as an ornamental plant placed around your garden beds.
What to expect: In zone 8, this rhizome may go semi-dormant or slow down its growth during the winter. The foliage may even die back for a bit after a hard frost, but it won't take long for it to recover and begin growing again. This rhizome is actively growing and blooming in zones 8-11 from Spring through the Fall! The summer is its showtime! Foliage will get 2-3 feet tall and little blooms will appear every 2-3 weeks!
**This is one of the reasons it is called a "Fortnight Lily" - because it is known to bloom every couple of weeks (14 days = fortnight).
Planting Requirements - Sun and Water: These rhizomes do best in well-drained soil, but they can tolerate some clay. They are extremely drought-resistant once they are established, but they perform better with occasional deep watering during a drought. Plant the rhizomes just about 1" or less deep. This helps them flower more freely and avoid rot. Space the rhizomes about 18-24" apart to allow room for spreading and clump development. Zone 8 prefers full sun; zones 9-11 can tolerate a couple hours summer shade, but really they love full summer sun! If they get too much shade, they will still grow well, but you will see fewer flowers.
Winter -- In zone 8 (and 9 if it looks like there will be a hard multi-day freeze) consider mulching around the base to protect the rhizomes from the freezing temperatures. Once the last frost has occured, remove the mulch since the rhizomes like to be near the surface of the soil. At that time, also remove any dead or damaged foliage.
Blooms and Foliage: The Dietes grows best in full summer sun and comes in pure white blooms or bicolor (which is a pale yellow). The foliage is one of the Dietes standout features. It is both beautiful and funtional growing 2-3 feet tall. The foliage is a deep green with long vertical swarod-like leaves. It is smooth and upright. It has been compared to a graceful arching fan. The foliage is an evergreen in zones 9-11, but it may die back slightly in zone 8 after a hard frost. This interesting foliage will add structure to your garden bed. It provides a grass-like effect in mass plantings or pairs beautifully with more mounded or airy plants like salvias.
The blooms will begin around April or May in zone 8 (depending on the last frost), peak in early summer, and then continue sporadically throughout the summer and into early fall (especially if it rains or is being watered through irrigation). These are an evergreen in zones 9-11 and should provide sporadic blooms most of the year.
Tips to Maximize Blooms:
-
Give full sun for the best flowering (they’ll tolerate part shade, but bloom less)
-
Water moderately—while drought-tolerant, occasional deep watering helps trigger blooms
-
Deadhead or trim spent flower stalks to encourage new flushes
Mulitplying: Plan on dividing the Dietes every 3-4 years to keep plants healthy. You will have lots to share with friends and family. It is best to divide these in late winter or early spring before new growth begins or after flowering in the fall in zones 10 and 11.
- Dig up the clump gently
- Separte the rhizomes by hand (each division will need several leaves and roots)
- Replant immediately at the same depth, spacing about 18-24" apart.
Animals: Bees are drawn to these little open flowers. Butterflies may occasionally visit especially if there a few nectar options available. Deer, squirrels, rabbits tend to avoid as the foliage is tough and fibrous (though deer have been known to eat plastic flowers). It is not toxic to your pets who are rarely interested in it either.
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