Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
Origin
Southern Africa
America
Types
Perennial
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
Number of Varieties
50415
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Open areas, River side, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-104-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm0.54 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm0.38 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Blue, Red, Violet, White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Cushion
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
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
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
Lobelia laxiflora
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Lobelia
In Hindi
African Iris
Lobelia
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Lobelie
In French
African Iris
Lobelia
In Spanish
Iris africano
Lobelia
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
λοβηλία
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Lobélia
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Lobelia
In Latin
African Iris
Lobelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Asparagales
Asterales
Family
Iridaceae
Campanulaceae
Genus
Dietes
Lobelia
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Lobelioideae
Number of Species
300415
1
27800
👆🏻