Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
-
Types
Perennial
Calycanthus floridus floridus, Calycanthus floridus glaucus
Number of Varieties
502
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
shaded woods, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-105-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
9-4
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Light Yellow, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Gold
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Lobed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, 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
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings, Suckers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
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
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 flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Bacterial Gall, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Semi-Double
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
Birds, Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
Toxic if not prepared properly
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antispasmodic, Cardiac, Disinfectant, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Root
Bark, Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Culinary use, Disinfectant, Repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
Calycanthus floridus
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Sweetshrub
In Hindi
African Iris
sweetshrub
In German
Afrikanische Iris
sweetshrub
In French
African Iris
sweetshrub
In Spanish
Iris africano
sweetshrub
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
sweetshrub
In Portuguese
Iris africano
sweetshrub
In Polish
Afryki Iris
sweetshrub
In Latin
African Iris
sweetshrub
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Laurales
Family
Iridaceae
Calycanthaceae
Genus
Dietes
Calycanthus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
3004
1
27800
👆🏻