Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Perennial
Brewster, Mauritius, Hak ip
Number of Varieties
5030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1010-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm910.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm1,070.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Red, Magenta
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Red, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Long Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
High
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Twice a week
In Winter
Average Water
Regular watering required
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune after harvesting, Prune lower leaves, Prune to control growth
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize after blooming period
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Aphids, fungus, Leaf curl
Plant Tolerance
Drought
-
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
Itchiness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
-
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
anti-allergy, Bone strength, Digestive disorders, Heart problems
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Edible, Feature Plant, Foundation, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
LITCHI chinensis
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Litchee, Litchi, Lychee
In Hindi
African Iris
लीची
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Lychee
In French
African Iris
Lychee
In Spanish
Iris africano
Lychee
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
λίτσι
In Portuguese
Iris africano
lichia
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Lychee
In Latin
African Iris
Lychee
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Sapindales
Family
Iridaceae
Sapindaceae
Genus
Dietes
Litchi Sonn
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Sapindoideae
Number of Species
3003
1
27800
👆🏻