Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Flowering Plants, Ornamental Plants, Shrub, Tree
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
Eastern Australia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Subtropical climates, tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
21,22
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
  
Light Pink, Not Available, Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
  
Green, Light Green, Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
  
Green, Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
  
Green, Light Green, Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Heart shaped, toothed with three to five lobes
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
  
Stem Cutting, Tip cutting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
  
It cannot sustain wet-feet, Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water frequently while growing, Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
  
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut leaves after fall, Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune in early summer, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
  
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Balanced liquid fertilizer, Do not fertilize new plants until at least a month, Use a low phosphate fertilizer to improve the quality of the blooms
  
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
  
Aphids, Mealybugs, Red spider mite, Scale, Thripes, Whiteflies
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
  
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Skin irritation
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Hair Conditioner, Not Available, Prevents greying of hair, Prevents Premature Baldness, Promotes Healthy Hair, Promotes healthy skin, Speed hair growth
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Hair Loss, High blood pressure, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Root
  
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Container, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
  
Hibiscus splendens
  
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
  
Hollyhock Tree, Pink Cottonwood
  
In Hindi
African Iris
  
Splendid Hibiscus
  
In German
Afrikanische Iris
  
Splendid Hibiscus
  
In French
African Iris
  
Splendid Hibiscus
  
In Spanish
Iris africano
  
Hibiscus Splendid
  
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
  
Splendid Hibiscus
  
In Portuguese
Iris africano
  
Hibiscus Splendid
  
In Polish
Afryki Iris
  
Splendid hibiskusa
  
In Latin
African Iris
  
egregiam Hibiscus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Asparagales
  
Malvales
  
Family
Iridaceae
  
Malvaceae
  
Genus
Dietes
  
Hibiscus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Irideae
  
Hibisceae
  
Subfamily
Iridoideae
  
Malvoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available