Dierama pulcherrimum
(Angel's Fishing Rod)
Family - Iridaceae
Category - Perennial
Origin - South Africa
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H4
Height - 1.8m
Width - 60cm
Location - The Cool Garden, The Terrace
Description: A Cormous Perennial with a clump-forming habit and upright leaves. Mid to dark green leaves are linear to strap-shaped and held at the base of the plant. Pendent bell-shaped flowers vary in colour from magenta to deep purple and various shades of pink. Each Bloom has a silver, papery Bract that remains attractive after the flowers have finished. The Blooms are held in graceful, dangling panicles on arching stems (hence the common name of Angel's Fishing Rod) and are produced from mid to late summer. The flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Additional common name - Wandflower
Flower:
Pendent bell-shaped flowers vary in colour from magenta, to deep purple and various shades of pink. Each bloom is subtended by a silver, papery bract that remains attractive after the flowers have finished. The blooms are held in graceful, dangling panicles on arching stems and are produced in July and August. The flowering stems remain attractive even when seed has been set.
Flower colour: Magenta, pink, purple
Flower shape: Bell-shaped flowers in panicles
Flowering time: July, August
Foliage:
Mid to dark green leaves are linear to strap-shaped. Each leaf can reach 90cm in length. The leaves are held at the base of the plant.
Foliage Senescence: Evergreen
Foliage Shape: Linear to strap-shaped
Propagation:
Division, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained. Will not tolerate soil that sits wet.