Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Africa, South Africa
Types
Perennial
Ornithogalum Umbellatum
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Ornithogalum dubium
Ornithogalum arabicum
Ornithogalum nutans
Number of Varieties
5060
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-107-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
10-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm15.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Orange, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Requires regular watering
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, Alkaline
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, 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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bog Garden, Borders, Decorating walls
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Root
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
ORNITHOGALUM dubium
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Snake Flower, Sun Star, Yellow Chincherinchee
In Hindi
African Iris
Sun Star
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Sun Star
In French
African Iris
Sun Star
In Spanish
Iris africano
Sun Star
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Sun Star
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Sun Star
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Sun Star
In Latin
African Iris
Sun Star
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Platyhelminthes
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Asparagales
Asparagales
Family
Iridaceae
Asparagaceae
Genus
Dietes
Ornithogalum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Irideae
Ornithogaleae
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Scilloideae
Number of Species
30050
1
27800
👆🏻