Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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 Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 8 to 11 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 2-3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Growth Habit
- , Clumping
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple, White, Yellow
- Flower Description
- White with yellow and blue-purple markings
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Fall Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- White African Iris
- Botanical Name
- Dietes iridioides
- Plant Type
- Annual
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
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.
Also Known 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
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known 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
Also Known 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
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!