Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
5-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin inflammation
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
-
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Root
Flowers
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, 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
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In Hindi
African Iris
हीथ
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Heidekraut
In French
African Iris
bruyère
In Spanish
Iris africano
brezo
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
ερείκη
In Portuguese
Iris africano
urze
In Polish
Afryki Iris
wrzos
In Latin
African Iris
Heather
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Ericales
Family
Iridaceae
Ericaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Ericoideae
Importance of African Iris and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Heather 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 Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Heather
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 Heather 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 Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.