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Dietes bicolor, the African iris, butterfly flag, fortnight lily, or peacock flower, is a clump-forming rhizomatous perennial plant with long sword-like evergreen pale green leaves, growing from multiple fans at the base of the clump. This species belongs to the iris family Iridaceae. It can form large clumps if left undisturbed for years. It is commonly cultivated in its native South Africa, where it is often used in public gardens, beautification of commercial premises and along roadsides. It is also cultivated in mild temperate zones elsewhere.
The Yellow Fortnight Lily (Dietes bicolor) is a hardy, clumping evergreen perennial native to South Africa. Famous for its delicate pale-yellow flowers marked with dark brown or maroon spots, the plant blooms in bursts at roughly two-week intervals, though individual flowers last only one day.
The blooms, appearing in spring and summer, are pale yellow with three dark purple spots, which may be so dark as to appear black. Each is surrounded by an orange outline. They are followed by a capsule that may bend the flower stalks to the ground. Ripe seeds (dark brown in colour) are dispersed when the capsule dries and splits.
The leaves of Dietes bicolor are narrower than those of Dietes grandiflora and Dietes iridioides, and tend to arch more.
Plants prefer dappled-shade to full sun where they will flower in profusion, though they will grow in shaded areas (with an accompanying loss of flower production). This species, as well as Dietes grandiflora, is very drought tolerant.
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Key Characteristics & CareAppearance:
Long, narrow, sword-shaped leaves that form tidy, vase-shaped fans. It grows to about 1 meter in height and spread.
Sun Requirements: Thrives in full sun to partial shade. (Providing light afternoon shade is recommended in hot, inland climates to avoid leaf scorch).
Water & Soil: Prefers well-draining, humus-rich soil, but is highly drought-tolerant once established.
Hardiness: Hardy in USDA Zones 9–11. It tolerates wind, coastal salt spray, and occasional light frost.
Maintenance: Low. Spent flowers shouldn't be cut off immediately; leave the branching stalks as they will continue to bloom for several years.
