Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Tender Perennial
Origin
Central America, South America, Brazil
Southern Africa
Types
cleistocactus strausii, cleistocactus winteri, cleistocactus samaipatanus
Perennial
Number of Varieties
1550
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
-
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-158-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
10-8
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Orange, Salmon
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Reduce watering in winter
Requires regular watering
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize the soil before planting, slow-release fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Stem Rot, fungus, Mealybugs, Spider mites
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Root
Other Uses
Florist trade and landscaping, Used as Ornamental plant
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
CLEISTOCACTUS
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Cleistocactus
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Cleistocactus
African Iris
In German
Cleistocactus
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Cleistocactus
African Iris
In Spanish
Cleistocactus
Iris africano
In Greek
Cleistocactus
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Cleistocactus
Iris africano
In Polish
Kleistokaktus
Afryki Iris
In Latin
Cleistocactus
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Cactaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Cleistocactus
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Irideae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Iridoideae
Number of Species
50300
1
27800
👆🏻