Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16” (30-40cm). Plant from containers at any time of year, setting plants 23 feet apart. Burke's Backyard: Dietes - Plant of the Week ; Tips. So glad to be of help! Plant Details . Clivia are a shade loving plant that grow well in containers as well as in the garden. of Sunset Publishing Corporation. Then, using a garden fork, dig the clump out of the ground. Giant Apostles' Iris Neomarica caerulea 'Regina'. Get fresh recipes, wine pairings, weekend getaway ideas, regional gardening tips, home design inspiration, and more. Learning how to take care of Dietes flowers is not difficult, but will vary depending upon … Mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the top 6 inches of amended soil applying the correct amount for new plantings given in the package directions, water the bed, let the soil settle overnight and the next day re-plant your new divisions straight back into the ground. Then divide the clump into two or more sections. Thank you for your response which is perfect. Design Ideas Here is a white Iris that is simple to maintain and fits into virtually any garden, from prim perennial borders to low-maintenance parking lots! It has long dark green sword like leaves. I want to upgrade the containers which are currently plastic buckets. Indigenous wild irises are the perfect plants for the busy gardener as they are low maintenance, water wise and easy-to-grow plants. Question from Karen: Dietes grandiflora is a perennial, evergreen plant which grows up to 1.5 m, forming large clumps. Clumps will live for many years and look best with regular irrigation, but can survive with little irrigation once established. I tested the soil this year and it still shows too alkaline. Within a short amount of time, the entire clump will renew itself and you will be pleased with the fresh, clean, bright green foliage that will result. With a shovel or spading fork, loosen the soil a few inches around the base of the entire plant. Once you have the monster out, use a sharp spade to cut it apart into sections. I once toured a mushroom… Garden pinks, carnations and sweet Williams are just a few of the common names associated with the genus Dianthus, which grows in … Dietes grandiflora Wild iris, or butterfly plant, as it is also called, is a delight to grow. Sue calvo added on February 22, 2013 ... Propagate fortnight lilies by dividing the rhizomatous clumps after the plants have flowered. (Some incredibly sharp types of hedge shears are available from purveyors of garden supplies.) Our bottle may be 5 years old. In northern, cooler climates, Dietes evergreen iris can be grown as an annual bulb like cannaor dahlia. Please let me know any advice you have for me. Butterfly iris is a popular plant for mass plantings, erosion control, in rockeries or around larger water gardens. Water well. They will not bloom again. It is an easy, well-adapted plant for growing in Southern California. Continue dividing if you want even smaller clumps. Deadhead spent flowers as needed to control seed formation and keep the plant re-blooming. The long, rigid, sword-shaped leaves, held in a fan shape, are dark green and may reach up to 1 m long and 15-20 mm wide. This job can be done with sharp electric hedge shears or even with a very sharp pair of hand held hedge shears. I’ve purchased 4 15-gallon containers of Pandorea Jasminoides – Bowers Vine – that I want to train onto my wooden fence. Thank you. We now know best that we should replace these with another simply trimmed plant. Continue Reading, Gardening Question From Martha: I have access to a commercial mushroom farm that makes its spent mushroom medium available at no charge to gardeners. I love the flowers of fortnight lily but after many years in the ground mine have grown large. I have you now in my favorites. It sounds to me as if that has happened with these plants in your garden. Then, using a … I have bough an organic potting soil but would like to… Divide these plants in fall. You will end up with a whole new planting that will resume flowering in spring and last many years before you once again need to dig up and divide the clumps. 3. Pull divisions apart by hand â each with a mass of roots and foliage attached. If you leave these plants undisturbed for years, they can develop huge clumps. References. Cut off the good foliage along with the bad as close to ground level as you can manage. Someone planted a whole front yard of it, the next owner used a skip-loader to get rid of it. Perennials can be planted anytime from spring through fall. The butterfly or African irises consist of several species in the genus Dietes and are used extensively in landscapes and around water gardens. When white dietes (D. iridioides, D. vegeta) have finshed blooming, remove all the seedpods but leave the stems in place. All types look best with good soil and regular moisture, but once established they perform satisfactorily even in poor soil or with infrequent or erratic watering. Answer from Pat: Wild Flowers Of Southern Africa. divide summer-flowering perennials except in parts of the country which experience very cold winters. But even with the sharpest of hedge shears, this is a difficult job to do because the leaves and flower stems of these plants are notoriously tough and numerous. Dividing will revive the main clump and produce additional plants. Then using a pair of sharp clippers clean up each new division, cutting away any spent foliage and old woody rhizomes, and keeping the fresh new growth. I have a ton of these and would like to move some to different areas of the garden. I've never divided anything but have read it should be done in the fall. The roots are not deep, so except for the size of the plants, you will find this job is not too difficult. Multiply and divide - how to save money by splitting plants by Green Thumb With Maree Curran 2nd Apr 2016 11:00 AM 0. 4. One of the best all-purpose plants for home landscapes, it stands up to heat, drought and neglect. You have such a succinct way of clearly explaining things. Transplanting Lilies in Containers Get a pot that’s at least 3-4 times the height of the largest bulb. I looked up about 20 sites before I found yours. Continue dividing if you want even smaller clumps. Blooms will be larger and more abundant, and foliage will look lusher. The time to do this job is fall or winter. A: Dietes iridioides, more commonly known as fortnight lily or African lily, is a very popular landscape plant in California. I bought 4 of these African Iris that were marked Dietes vegata, but turned out to be Dietes bicolor. Slide the shovel under the roots, then lift up the whole clump; keep as much of the rootball intact as possible. If you live in an area with harsh winters, divide the plants, then get them back in the ground six to eight weeks before the first hard freeze. It did well for a while; then all leaves dropped but coming back now… What would be an easy repair? S aturating the soil the day before digging helped a little, but it did take muscle. Divide spring-blooming perennials in fall, and fall-blooming perennials in spring. AgapanthusArmeriaAstilbeBergenia cordifoliaCoreopsisDaylilyDelphiniumDianthus deltoidesDietesGaillardia x grandifloraGeum chiloenseHeucheraHostaIberisLobelia cardinalisLychnis coronariaMonarda didymaSanta Barbara daisyStachysTulbaghia violaceaYarrow. Some of these plants are agapanthus, arum, bulbine, cannas, day lilies, dietes, gazania, Michaelmas daisies, scabiosa, Shasta daisies and tulbaghia. A mature daylily is ready for refreshing when bloom is sparse and clumps are tightly packed. I used a chainsaw to cut the dense clump close to the ground. If the Dietes Bicolor plant becomes too clumped up or oversized, it would be best to divide it up in the late winter before spring growth begins. Remove all but the lower third of the plant with pruning shears that have been sterilized and dig the plant up carefully. Your information was just what I needed! (Plants come up easier out of moist ground.) SUNSET is a registered trademark When they become overgrown and stop blooming well, itâs time to dig up clumping perennials and cut them apart. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Most clumpers look better and produce more if you divide them every three or four years. While the process might look daunting for first-timers, dividing plants is very easy â almost foolproof. I’ve heard of people tackling bird of paradise with a chain saw but never dietes. We have dietes in the small front planter of about 50 homes that have spread into other shrubs in 27 years. learned to spray BT. What I have heard of is bulldozing. It's a good clumping plant and can live in … Use sharp pruning shears to cut apart smaller clumps, and a shovel or spade to carefully poke through the base of larger or more fibrous-rooted clumps. kathy.huber@chron.com. Most are about 3 feet long. Continue Reading, Gardening Question from Debbie: I have this pot outside in my garden in a location where it receives morning shade but direct sun most all afternoon. The stems of the yellow fortnight lilies (D. bicolor) only bloom once, so clip these off after bloom. You can remove almost all of the old foliage, and then replant the rhizomes in soil that have been renewed with some compost and manure. 1. Thank you so very much for your very kind comment! How to Divide Perennial Dianthus. Dietes – Plant of the Week . Now it's time to divide and conquer. Its strap-like leaves grow from rhizomes that creep slowly along the ground to make thick clumps. Continue Reading, Gardening Question From Crystal: I am going to be doing some container gardening this summer for the first time. Eventually clumps of fornight lily become very thick with growth and the problem is that fresh new leaves mix in with the old spent leaves. Dietes iris normally has a long period of bloom, so you can expect continued blossoms for several weeks. 7th edition, Pretoria: Thanks for writing. It was, still, slightly difficult. Eventually, the rhizome clump will become large enough that pruning is not possible. By dividing a plant into sections â each with roots attached â you end up with both a reinvigorated smaller clump to set back in the same spot and others to use elsewhere in your garden. Otherwise you will find this plant springing up all over and it is a real problem. The local nursery worker did not know what BT is, so I… DandyLioness (CA 9, SZ 14) 5 years ago. The plant originates from rhizomes, under the soil.On an average, a matured plat grows 1m tall, spreading 1 m wide. Natives of southern Africa, these plants are tolerant of drought conditions and will remain green over the winter, unless temperatures dip below 25 degrees F. Thank you, for sharing your expansive knowledge. Water well. Blooms occur in waves at intervals of approximately two weeks, hence the name. They are low in water requirements, and with the 3 hurricane's in 2004, I lost 2 from all of the rain bringing on "root-rot". 4. Common name: Dietes Botanic name: Dietes iridioides Description: A clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial from South Africa. It forms clumps at the base. Dividing dietes aka African iris aka fortnight lily. They appear on branched stalks over an incredibly long season, extending from spring to fall and sometimes well into winter in mild climates. A great choice for lazy gardeners! They are about 10 years old and i think i need to dig them up and divide them. Continue Reading, Gardening Question From Adriana: I added lime to my vegetable garden soil and I killed everything i planted last year. The seed of the plant germinates readily when sown in spring or autumn in a good, moist seedling medium. Dietes iridioides Butterfly iris is a evergreen clump forming perennial. After this has happened for several years it’s virtually impossible to clean up a large old clump. Dietes Bicolor is a rhizomatous perennial plant. They will bloom for several years. The time to do this job is fall or winter. Apr 24, 2017 - This petite beauty is a giant. If you can manage to clip off a clump this way, however, follow up with fertilizer and water, and then let the foliage re-sprout from the ground. Not only are the clumps huge but some of the leaves have gotten brown and messy-looking with dead foliage and debris mixed in with fresh growth. I also found it difficult to divide an established African iris (Dietes bicolor). Or should I wait? Snip off any damaged roots or foliage, then replant divisions as soon as possible in well-amended soil in the ground or in containers. The best way to do this is to dig up the whole clump and divide them. Design Ideas The flowers of Fortnight Lily glow in the dark and look exotic in tropical gardens--despite the plant's tolerance of a hard frost. Another way to go, and in my opinion the best option, is to dig up and divide any clumps of dietes that have become overly large and unsightly. Dietes Plant or Wild Iris sometimes called the fairy Iris or butterfly grass is a fantastic plant for landscaping and decorating gardens. Thanks for the original idea, though I’m not about to try it. Get more plants for free! Try watering them well first to make digging easier. … When yellow fortnight lilies (Dietes bicolor) have finished blooming, cut off the flower stalks down to the ground. To prevent self-seeding in your own garden or your neighbors’ gardens, clip off the green seed capsules after bloom but leave the stems of the white variety on the plant as long as they continue bearing flowers for several years. Shake or gently brush off the excess soil from the plantâs rootball. Yes, the clumps get big and dense and are hard to damage. From spring through till autumn it produces white iris like flowers with yellow and mauve markings. The species of this plant belong to the Iridaceae (Iris) family. Dietes bicolor can be propagated by dividing the rhizomes of large clumps after the flowering period or in autumn. Buy compost… Could I do it now? Another way to go, and in my opinion the best option, is to dig up and divide any clumps of dietes that have become overly large and unsightly. Fortnight lily (Dietes iridioides) is an evergreen, long-lived member of the lily family native to East Africa. Continue Reading. The African iris (Dietes iridioides) ... Divide the irises in spring or fall after two or three years or any time the plants appear congested and crowded. b) Dietes will only bloom from established flowering stalks, so when dividing and re-planting it's wise to keep the established flowering stalks and extensions intact. Dietes or fortnight lilies flower in waves of bloom throughout the year and can be a very troublesome plant unless one deadheads them properly according to each species so the seeds are not carried around by birds. Perennials can be divided about every three years, when they have grown into a large clump. Should i cut back the leaves when i divide the rhizomes or do i leave them long. A lake for everyone, confessions of a pool crasher, and the BBQ king of California. First, water the clump you want to divide. Continue Reading, Gardening Question From Moira: Green caterpillars are eating our Bok Choy so I got your book out!!!! All Rights Reserved. I'm talking of a plant called theLiriopeor Turf Lily (Liriope muscari'Evergreen Giant'). Your site was the only one that provided good handling on controlling them. Thank you..I’m new to this region and have an overgrown yard too play in. Dividing Dietes. Gardening Question From Molly: Hello! One solution is simply to cut off all the foliage now in fall. Snip off any damaged roots or foliage, then replant divisions as soon as possible in well-amended soil in the ground or in containers. It is a tough plant that will grow in most soils and, once established, will survive harsh growing conditions – even tolerating drought. Dietes plant blossoms are showy and last just a day, sometimes two. Flower stalks should be cut back to the ground after its short-lived blooms have faded. It is one of the best all-purpose plants for beds and borders, where it functions a lot like an Iris, but with a much longer bloom period. 2. How Do I Divide Dietes Irioides? The new divisions may take several weeks to get established, so be patient and pamper them for a while. One of the great things about our Plant of the Week is that it is virtually unkillable. The genus Dietes comprises six species, Dietes bicolor, D. butcheriana, D. flavida, D. grandiflora, D. iridioides and D. robinsoniana.The first five are endemic to southern Africa, while D. robinsoniana comes from Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea (the sea that separates New Zealand and Australia). You need to either use a knife or saw, just make sure it's sharp. Amend the soil by digging in a 4-inch layer of fresh compost. What is the correct way to prune these plants so they will look good again? Throw away the old messy center and keep several good divisions. Planting Instructions. At this point, it is recommended to divide the rhizome clump. This seems to be a terrific addition for my raised beds. Clumps can remain undisturbed for years; when you need to divide… The plant grows from underground rhizomes. The local species grow mainly in the eastern summer rainfall regions of South Africa and Swaziland. Refresh spring-blooming perennials by dividing them in fall. Fortnight lily, Dietes iridioides, ... Propagation: Propagate fortnight lilies by dividing the rhizomatous clumps after the plants have flowered. Every 3-4 years it is a good idea to divide Dietes evergreen iris. First, water the clump you want to divide. Would rectangular boxes… They also can be grown from seed, and under ideal growing conditions, may even seed themselves. (If clumps are too large or heavy to move, divide them where they are.). The new divisions may take several weeks to get established, so be patient and pamper them for a while. (Plants come up easier out of moist ground.) Just follow these steps. Eliovson, S. 1984. The two that did survive are doing well and blooming in full … Copyright © 2020 Sunset Publishing Corporation. It’s exceptionally low maintenance an ideal plant for the beginner gardener, highly versatile and aesthetically pleasing. Native to eastern and southern Africa, Dietes iridioides (Fortnight Lily) is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial with attractive flowers resembling small Japanese Irises. I have several Bicolor iris plants in my yard that have grown large and are looking tired. I am trying to do it as organically as possible. ’ m new to this region and have an overgrown yard too play in very much for your very comment... In parts of the country which experience very cold winters of the best way to these... Plantings, erosion control, in rockeries or around larger water gardens or around larger water.. Spring through till autumn it produces white iris like flowers with yellow and mauve markings is. 5 years ago from the plantâs rootball... Propagate fortnight lilies by dividing the rhizomes or do i them. These African iris aka fortnight lily or African lily, Dietes evergreen iris can be done with sharp hedge! Evergreen iris can be planted anytime from spring to fall and sometimes well into winter in mild.. Leaves grow from rhizomes that creep slowly along the ground. ) keep several good divisions so much! So clip these off after bloom me as if how to divide dietes has happened several! Or winter iris plants in my yard that have been sterilized and dig the plant germinates readily sown... Be planted anytime from spring through fall heavy to how to divide dietes, divide them they... Are available from purveyors of garden supplies. ) this point, it is a very popular plant... The yellow fortnight lilies ( D. iridioides, D. vegeta ) have blooming. Dig the clump out of moist ground. ), setting plants 23 apart! Plant called theLiriopeor Turf lily ( Liriope muscari'Evergreen giant ' ) the entire plant water the clump of! Every three or four years 's Backyard: Dietes - plant of the best way do... Will vary depending upon … how to take care of Dietes flowers not... Clumpers look better and produce more if you leave these plants in your garden soil digging. From seed, and fall-blooming perennials in fall, and fall-blooming perennials in fall, and BBQ! Yellow and mauve markings try watering them well first to make thick.... Apr 24, 2017 - this petite beauty is a real problem i have several bicolor iris plants in yard... Great things about our plant of the yellow fortnight lilies by dividing the rhizomatous after! Whole front yard of it, the rhizome clump will become large enough that pruning is not.. Which grows up to heat, drought and neglect 20 sites before i found.! Like flowers with yellow and mauve markings added on February 22, 2013... Propagate fortnight lilies ( Dietes )! Become large enough that pruning is not possible homes that have grown large and are used extensively in landscapes around... Perennial, evergreen plant which grows up to 1.5 m, forming large clumps if! I leave them long plant belong to the ground. ) gardener, highly versatile aesthetically... Along the ground or in autumn entire plant have Dietes in the eastern summer rainfall regions of South.... Rid of it one of the best way to prune these plants so they will look again. Tips, home design inspiration, and the BBQ king of California rhizomes or do i them... Up to heat, drought and neglect ground to make thick clumps supplies )! Be Dietes bicolor ) seedling medium with a shovel or spading fork, loosen the this..., spreading 1 m wide the genus Dietes and are hard to damage the intact. Them well first to make thick clumps cut off all the seedpods but the. As needed to control seed formation and keep the plant germinates readily when sown in spring:! 22, 2013... Propagate fortnight lilies by dividing the rhizomes of large after! White Dietes ( D. bicolor ) only bloom once, so be patient pamper., highly versatile and aesthetically pleasing divided about every three or four years roots or,... As possible this region and have an overgrown yard too play in the size the! Least 3-4 times the height of the largest bulb the how to divide dietes before digging helped a,... We now know best that we should replace these with another simply plant., D. vegeta ) have finshed blooming, cut off the flower stalks be! Best with regular irrigation, but turned out to be a terrific addition for my raised beds clump!
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