Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
Southern Asia
Types
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
African iris, Large wild iris, Cape iris
Number of Varieties
256
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
Coastal Regions, Forest margins, Slopes
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-109-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-7
12-10
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.30 cm70.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm50.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Orange, Gold
White, Yellow, Blue, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, 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
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
Average Water Needs, 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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads, Remove short twigs, Remove wet foliage
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
Bees, Butterflies, Flying insects, Insects
Allergy
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Borders, Ground Cover, Showy Purposes, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, soil stabilisation, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Flowers
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
Screen, useful as a ground cover
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Container, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
DIETES grandiflora
Common Name
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
Butterfly Iris
In Hindi
Chincherinchee
तितली आइरिस प्लांट
In German
Kap-Milchstern
Schmetterling Iris Pflanzen
In French
Chincherinchee
Papillon Iris Plante
In Spanish
Chincherinchee
Planta del iris de la mariposa
In Greek
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Πεταλούδα Iris Φυτών
In Portuguese
Chinkerinchee
Borboleta da planta Iris
In Polish
Chincherinchee,
Butterfly Iris Roślin
In Latin
Chincherinchee
Gloria Iris Planta
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Liliales
Family
Asparagaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Ornithogalum
Dietes Salisb
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Ornithogaleae
Irideae
Subfamily
Scilloideae
Iridoideae
Number of Species
180260
1
27800
👆🏻