Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
Types
Perennial
Cornus racemosa
Number of Varieties
502
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Dappled Shade, Hedge, hedge rows, Shady Edge
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-104-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
8-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Pale White
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Burgundy, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Average
-
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Astringent, Emetic, Febrifuge
Part of Plant Used
Root
extracted oil, Fruits
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Charcoal, Used as a dye, Used to make baskets
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
CORNUS racemosa
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Dogwood, Bloodtwig dogwood
In Hindi
African Iris
Gray Dogwood
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Cornus racemosa
In French
African Iris
Gray Dogwood
In Spanish
Iris africano
Cornus racemosa
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Gray Dogwood
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Gray Dogwood
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Gray Dogwood
In Latin
African Iris
Gray Dogwood
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Cornales
Family
Iridaceae
Cornaceae
Genus
Dietes
Cornus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
30017
1
27800
👆🏻