Life Span
Perennial
Biennial or Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe
Types
Perennial
Leaf beet, Seakettle beet, Spinach beet
Number of Varieties
506
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-104-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
12-1
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
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Red, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green, Green, Orange, Red, White, Yellow
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Cercospora leaf spot, Damping off, Darkling beetles, Downy mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
dark circles, Diarrhea, Runny nose, Vomiting, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Moisturizing, Remove blemishes, Slow downs aging, Speed hair growth
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antitumor, Carminative, Haemostatic, Stomachic, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Cultivated for fodder, Eaten as a pot herb, Used to make juice
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
BETA vulgaris ssp. cicla
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Swiss Chard
In Hindi
African Iris
Swiss Chard
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Swiss Chard
In French
African Iris
Chard suisse
In Spanish
Iris africano
Acelgas
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Σέσκουλο
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Acelga suíça
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Boćwina
In Latin
African Iris
Swiss Chard
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Iridaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Dietes
Beta
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Irideae
Cyclolobeae
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Betoideae
Number of Species
3003
1
27800
👆🏻