Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Perennial
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
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
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Elliptic and Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
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 if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Part of Plant Used
Root
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Carissia
In Hindi
African Iris
Carissa
In German
Afrikanische Iris
carissa
In French
African Iris
carissa
In Spanish
Iris africano
carissa
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
carissa
In Portuguese
Iris africano
carissa
In Polish
Afryki Iris
carissa
In Latin
African Iris
carissa
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Gentianales
Family
Iridaceae
Apocynaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Importance of African Iris and Carissa
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Carissa. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Carissa 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 whereas of Carissa is . African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Carissa has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Carissa
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 Carissa 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 Carissa have Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Carissa has showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Carissa is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Carissa facts and facts of other plants too.