Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender Perennial
Origin
Middle Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Perennial Grass
Perennial
Habitat
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-11
8-10
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
10-8
Sunset Zone
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
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Sandy Brown
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Grass like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
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
Summer, Late Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Flying insects
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Ethnobotanic
Medicinal Uses
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Root
Other Uses
Food for animals, Used As Food
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Elephant Grass
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
हाथी घास
African Iris
In German
Elefantengras
Afrikanische Iris
In French
l'herbe à éléphant
African Iris
In Spanish
pasto elefante
Iris africano
In Greek
ελέφαντα χόρτο
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
capim-elefante
Iris africano
In Polish
trawa słoniowa
Afryki Iris
In Latin
elephanti herba
African Iris
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Iridoideae
Importance of Elephant Grass and African Iris
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Grass and African Iris. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Grass and African Iris as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Elephant Grass is Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders and Wounds whereas of African Iris is . Elephant Grass has beauty benefits as follows: while African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Elephant Grass vs African Iris
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Elephant Grass vs African Iris and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Elephant Grass are Asthma and breathing problems whereas of African Iris have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Grass has no showy fruits and African Iris has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Grass is not flowering and African Iris is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Grass and African Iris facts and facts of other plants too.