PlantFiles: Butterfly Iris, Wild Iris
Dietes grandiflora

I had never seen this plant before until I saw it at my office in our beds. I happened upon the landscaper one afternoon and talked him into giving me a piece because he was thinning it out. I planted it and by the next spring it was huge! I divided it into 4 plants and spead them around. This year all over town they are blooming beautifully, but not mine. Does anyone know what to feed them? Bulb food? Flower blooming fertilizer? I have put compost around them every year for 3 years, but not yet this year.

I have planted these iris in full sun, they are in very good soil conditions and watered regularly, yet did not come back after the winter weather like the Louisiana swamp iris did. Very sparsely leaved and no blooms. No sign of disease or insects. I probably have twenty 3-gallon plants.

This plant is grown in Zone 9 California,
It is very popular in commercial applications, as well as home landscape.
It grows larger here width/height 3'-4' seems to be pest free,( but dosen't do well with alot of water), it's drought tolorent. I'm planting it now on the eastern facing side of the house in full sun, late afternoon shade, to hide the air conditioning unit. I will be dividing this plant into 4 sections. update to follow
Thanks, Sherry

This plant does great no matter where its planted in this zone..However it does its best when it gets partial sun and is in cool moist area. Makes a beautiful side dressing near a pond due to the humidity. Easily divided with spade. I have propagated by seed, germinates easier indoors in a mini-greenhouse using moist peat mixture expandable pods.