Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
-
Types
Perennial
Primula auricula, Bear's Ear
Number of Varieties
5025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Rocky Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-104-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm20.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Yellow, Yellow Orange
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, 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, Light Yellow, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Fall
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
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, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Variety of soil types
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
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Making cosmetics, Stops hair loss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Eczema
Part of Plant Used
Root
Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Decoration Purposes, Medicinal oil, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
Primula auricula
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
auricula, mountain cowslip or bear's ear
In Hindi
African Iris
mountain cowslip
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Aurikel
In French
African Iris
Primula auricula
In Spanish
Iris africano
Primula auricula
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
mountain cowslip
In Portuguese
Iris africano
cowslip montanha
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Pierwiosnek łyszczak
In Latin
African Iris
Primula auricula
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Ericales
Family
Iridaceae
Primulaceae
Genus
Dietes
Primula
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Primuloideae
Number of Species
30025
1
27800
👆🏻