Fortnight Lily

Butterfly-Like Fortnight Lily Glows in Every Garden

The Fortnight Lily (Dietes bicolor), also known as the African iris or butterfly iris, is one of Ma Nature's clever little optical illusions! Its pale yellow flowers with rich maroon spots look like fluttering butterflies hovering above a sea of green, grass-like leaves. Native to Southern Africa, this evergreen perennial flower blooms every few weeks (hence the name Fortnight), especially in warm USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.

Its upright, sword-like foliage and strappy leaves create a tidy fan-shaped clump, offering year-round garden interest even when not in bloom. Each flower is a soft, buttery yellow with three chocolate-maroon blotches near the base!

Despite its delicate appearance, this hardy herbaceous perennial is tough as nails, drought tolerant, a great fire-resistant landscaping plant, and adaptable to both desert heat and coastal breezes! This makes it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardening and sustainable landscape design.

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Plant Characteristics and Identification

Its upright, sword-like foliage and strappy leaves create a tidy fan-shaped clump, offering year-round garden interest even when not in bloom. Each flower is a soft, buttery yellow with three chocolate-maroon blotches near the base! Acting like a beacon for pollinator-friendly plants and darling additions to cut flower gardens, these cheerful yellow perennial flowers are spot on for your full sun garden!

Botanical Classification:

• Scientific name: Dietes bicolor
• Common names: Fortnight lily, African iris, butterfly iris, yellow wild iris
• Plant family: Iridaceae (Iris family)
• Plant type: Evergreen clumping perennial
• Mature size: 2-3 feet tall and wide

Key Features For Garden Planning

• Soft buttercream yellow flowers with distinctive maroon eye-spots
• Continuous blooming perennial: blooms spring through fall in flushes every few weeks
• Evergreen clumping perennial with architectural strappy-leaved form
• Deer-resistant plants
• Versatile soil tolerance: Thrives in poor, salty, or wet soils, as well as dry, xeric landscaping, and rocky sites equally well
• Heat-tolerant perennials: Hardy in USDA Planting Zones 9-11. Excels in hot climate gardening and high humidity

Landscaping Uses

Acting like a beacon for pollinator-friendly plants and darling additions to cut flower gardens, these cheerful yellow perennial flowers are spot on for your full sun garden!

These flowers seem to glow during twilight hours, making them perfect for a Moon Garden. While each bloom only lasts a day, the plant continuously produces new ones from spring to fall. Fortnight Lily has long been a go-to plant for sustainable gardens. It thrives in both xeric designs and boggy spots alike!

Fortnight Lily is also a welcome friend to pollinators and fire-wise landscaping plans. Standing 2-3 feet tall and wide, Fortnight Lily is an upright clumping perennial perfect for sunny spots that need subtle drama and long-lasting color.

• Mass along sunny borders or dry stream beds
• Highlight ponds, fountains, and rain gardens
• Use in coastal landscaping and inland firewise plantings
• Add texture to rock gardens
• Accent cottage gardens with glowing twilight color
• Grow in large porch and patio container gardens or balcony pots

Care and Maintenance

This cousin of the Iris is deer-resistant, low-maintenance, and handles salty spray, compacted soils, and even an occasional hard frost. Fortnight Lily is an herbaceous perennial that thrives in a wide range of conditions, from boggy to bone-dry. It’s sun-loving, evergreen in mild zones, and tough enough to survive light frost with grace.

• Planting Time: In spring, when the soil is workable, or in the fall
• Sun Needs: Full sun to part sun (blooms best in full sun)
• Soil Needs: Tolerates draining clay, sand, or loam; handles both wet and dry conditions; good drainage preferred but not required!
• Moisture Needs: Water to establish, then infrequent deep watering
• Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch to retain moisture and prevent weeds
• Fertilization Needs: Not heavy feeders; compost or balanced slow-release fertilizer in the spring
• Pruning Info: Trim spent flower stalks and damaged foliage as needed
• Special Needs/Perks/For Success:
• Handles drought, coastal salt, wet soil, and compacted clay
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Tolerates a wide pH range
• Extremely low maintenance once established
• Division Info: Divide every 3-5 years to rejuvenate and multiply. Remove older leaves to refresh the appearance

Let These "Flutter-Lilies" Light Up Your Landscape

Add some fluttery flair to your yard with the butterfly-like blooms of Fortnight Lily. From blazing sun to soggy spots, few plants can keep their cool (and keep blooming!) the way Dietes bicolor does. Whether you're growing for beauty, for resilience, or for fire prevention, this perennial earns its keep year after year.

Buy now, and Nature Hills will ship at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Fortnight Lilies rebloom?
Yes! Fortnight Lilies bloom in flushes every couple of weeks from spring through fall.

Are Fortnight Lilies drought-tolerant?
Yes, once established, they are extremely drought-tolerant but also grow well in moist or boggy conditions.

Do Fortnight Lilies attract pollinators?
Yes, bees and other pollinators are drawn to the bright blooms.

Are Fortnight Lilies invasive?
No, they are clump-forming and well-behaved in the landscape, though they may need dividing every few years.

Can Fortnight Lilies survive frost?
Yes, they tolerate occasional hard frosts, especially in Zone 8 and up, but may benefit from protection in colder regions.

Can I grow Fortnight Lilies in containers?
Absolutely! Use a large container with drainage, and enjoy these beauties on your balcony or patio.

Do I need to deadhead Fortnight Lilies?
While not necessary, deadheading improves appearance and tidiness.

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