Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Origin
Southern Africa
Hybrid origin
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
moist forests, Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Pinnate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Needs very little water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Allergy
Skin irritation
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
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, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
Averrhoa bilimbi
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Bilimbi, Mimbro
In Hindi
African Iris
Bilimbi
In German
Afrikanische Iris
bilimbi
In French
African Iris
bilimbi
In Spanish
Iris africano
bilimbi
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
bilimbi
In Portuguese
Iris africano
bilimbi
In Polish
Afryki Iris
bilimbi
In Latin
African Iris
Rondo Beardtongue
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Oxalidales
Family
Iridaceae
Oxalidaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Irideae
Not Available
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of African Iris and Bilimbi
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Bilimbi. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Bilimbi as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of African Iris is No Medicinal Use whereas of Bilimbi is Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity and Tonic. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Bilimbi
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of African Iris vs Bilimbi and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of African Iris are Skin irritation whereas of Bilimbi have Itchiness, Not Available and Sore Throat respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Bilimbi has no showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Bilimbi is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Bilimbi facts and facts of other plants too.
