- Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 2 - 3 Feet
- Mature Spread 2 - 3 Feet
- Growing Zones 8 - 11
- Use As A Thriller In Containers
Beautiful blooms and spiky upright foliage give this sun-loving and easy-care plant a striking appearance. The White African Iris, also known as Dietes iridioides or Fortnight Lily, boasts tall grass-like foliage and lovely white flowers with curled petals that feature blue-purple and yellow markings. Each flower lasts for a day or two, but the plant continuously blooms from spring into the fall.
The naturally clumping growth habit creates a full and lush appearance that will allow this plant to stand out in borders, mixed beds, mass plantings, or containers. This plant is native to eastern and southern Africa, but in the U.S., it grows as a perennial in zones 8 through 11. The White African Iris attracts pollinators like butterflies and birds while also being heat, drought, and disease tolerant.
White African Iris Plant Care
The White African Iris requires full sun to part shade, so about 4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily. Too much light can be damaging, but too little light will result in fewer blooms, so it’s essential to find the right spot so this beauty can thrive. Use rich, slightly acidic to alkaline soil with a pH between 6.1 and 7.8. Water when the top couple of inches of soil dries out.
Remove spent blooms to keep the plant looking neat and well maintained. This plant is not a heavy feeder, but applying a balanced fertilizer in the spring will help it start the growing season off strong.
White African Iris Plant Spacing
Once mature, this clump-forming perennial will be 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Space the plants 4 feet apart to allow room for growth or create a seamless mass planting by spreading the plants 2 feet apart.
White African Iris Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 - 11 |
| Plant Type: Annuals |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 2 - 3 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 3 - 4 Feet |
| Spacing: 1 - 2 Feet |
| Habit: Clumping |
| Flower Color(s): Purple, White, Yellow |
| Flower Description: White Flowers With Yellow And Blue Purple Markings |
| Bloom Period: Spring Into Fall |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Fall Flowering |
| Watering: Low |
| Resists: N/A |
| Tolerates: Heat, Drought |
| Attracts: Butterflies |
| Container Role: Thriller |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Groundcovers, Mass Planting, Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance, Continuous Blooming or Rebloomer |
| Brand: Southern Living Plants |
| Common Name: White African Iris |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: Dietes iridioides |
- SKU:
- IRISWA
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Know As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Know As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Know As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Know As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Know As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Know As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.
