Plant Database
Yellow African Iris
Dietes(Moraea) bicolor, African Iris, Fortnight Lily
Yellow African Iris is a tough, evergreen perennial valued for its continuous display of cheerful, delicate flowers and its architectural grassy foliage. It forms dense clumps of upright, narrow, sword-shaped leaves. From spring to fall, it regularly produces tall, wiry stems topped with pale yellow, iris-like flowers marked with dark brown spots at their base. Exceptionally drought-tolerant and carefree once established, it is a staple for water-wise landscapes, effective as an accent, mass planting, or informal hedge.
-
Prolific Pale Yellow & Brown Flowers: Blooms repeatedly with delicate, pale yellow flowers adorned with distinctive dark brown blotches.
-
Continuous Long Bloom Season: Flowers appear in flushes from spring through fall, often every two weeks ("fortnightly"), hence its common name.
-
Extremely Drought Tolerant & Tough: Thrives in full sun and poor, dry soils with minimal water once established. Highly deer resistant.
-
Architectural Grassy Foliage: Forms a dense, evergreen clump of upright, strappy leaves that provide year-round structure.
-
Low-Maintenance & Versatile: Requires no deadheading and little care. Ideal for slopes, parking strips, coastal gardens, or as a textural accent.