Home
Garden Plants


About African Iris and Choy Sum


About Choy Sum and African Iris


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Annual  

Type
Tender Perennial  
Vegetable  

Origin
Southern Africa  
Europe  

Types
Perennial  
-  

Number of Varieties
50  
99+
5  

Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions  
agricultural areas, Moist Soils  

USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10  
4-10  

AHS Heat Zone
10-8  
9-3  

Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Clump-Forming  
Upright/Erect  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
61.30 cm  
99+
15.20 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
30.50 cm  
99+
15.70 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown  
Yellow  

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Green, Brown  
Sienna, Black  

Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green  
Green, Light Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green  
White, Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green  
White, Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green  
White, Green, Dark Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Grass like  
Oval  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Growth Rate
Medium  
Fast  

Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Average  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Indeterminate  
Spring, Summer  

Repeat Bloomer
Yes  
No  

Tolerances
Drought  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot  
Container, Ground  

How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings  
Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering  
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Do not water the foliage, Keep the Soil well drained  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Lots of watering  

In Spring
Moderate  
Moderate  

In Winter
Average Water  
Average Water  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral  

Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Average  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Pruning
Remove dead leaves  
Remove dead or diseased plant parts  

Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer  
8-8-8, since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer  

Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale  
Aphids, Beetles, Cabbage looper, Downy mildew, Fusarium leaf spot, Rust  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Full Sun, Humidity, Shallow soil  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
No  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
No  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
Yes  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Matte  
-  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
Sometimes  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
Yes  

Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies  
Caterpillar, Mites  

Allergy
Skin irritation  
Diarrhea, Dizziness, Nausea  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes  
-  

Beauty Benefits
-  
Anti-ageing, Hair Conditioner, Skin cleanser  

Edible Uses
No  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic  
Fixes Nitrogen, Food for animals  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
Aging, Anti-oxidant, Digestion problems, Eliminate toxins, Nutritive, Obesity, Rich in Potassium  

Part of Plant Used
Root  
Leaf Stalks, Leaves  

Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant  
Culinary use, Sauces, Used to promote healthy blood flow during menstruation  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens  
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Wildflower  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor  
BRASSICA rapa( Chinensis Group)  

Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily  
Bok Choy, Chinese Cabbage, Choy Sum, Pak Choi  

In Hindi
African Iris  
choy sum  

In German
Afrikanische Iris  
choy sum  

In French
African Iris  
choy sum  

In Spanish
Iris africano  
choy sum  

In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris  
choy sum  

In Portuguese
Iris africano  
choy sum  

In Polish
Afryki Iris  
choy sum  

In Latin
African Iris  
choy sum  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Magnoliopsida  

Order
Asparagales  
Capparales  

Family
Iridaceae  
Brassicaceae  

Genus
Dietes  
Brassica  

Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots  
Angiosperms, Monocots  

Tribe
Irideae  
-  

Subfamily
Iridoideae  
-  

Number of Species
300  
99+
18  
99+

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of African Iris and Choy Sum

Wondering what are the properties of African Iris and Choy Sum? We provide you with everything About African Iris and Choy Sum. African Iris doesn't have thorns and Choy Sum doesn't have thorns. Also African Iris does not have fragrant flowers. African Iris has allergic reactions like Skin irritation and Choy Sum has allergic reactions like Skin irritation. Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of African Iris and Choy Sum and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

Compare Bulb Plants

Season and Care of African Iris and Choy Sum

Season and care of African Iris and Choy Sum is important to know. While considering everything about African Iris and Choy Sum Care, growing season is an essential factor. African Iris season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Choy Sum season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for African Iris is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Choy Sum is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for African Iris is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Choy Sum is Acidic, Neutral.

African Iris and Choy Sum Physical Information

African Iris and Choy Sum physical information is very important for comparison. African Iris height is 61.30 cm and width 30.50 cm whereas Choy Sum height is 15.20 cm and width 15.70 cm. The color specification of African Iris and Choy Sum are as follows:

Care of African Iris and Choy Sum

Care of African Iris and Choy Sum include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. African Iris pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Choy Sum pruning is done Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer African Iris needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Choy Sum needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.

Bulb Plants

Bulb Plants

» More Bulb Plants

Compare Bulb Plants

» More Compare Bulb Plants