WAND-FLOWER
Family IRIDACEAE
Dierama pulcherrima
Perennial
A bulbous-rooted plant native to South Africa.
The foliage is sword-shaped and the stems are
tough but slender, bearing along the upper portion
many pendulous and funnel-shaped flowers, varying
in colour from white to shades of pink and purple,
some being effectively striped.
The individual flowers are about one and a half
inches in length and are attached to the stem
by means of fine pedicels.
The height varies from four to six feet.
It requires a well-drained light, sandy loam,
and the presence of leafmould is beneficial.
Dieramas will lend an air of distinction to any
border. They are particularly lovely by the side
of ponds and streams.
Except in the most severe
climates the plants may be left out-of-doors in
winter, it being advisable in hard weather to
provide a top covering of bracken.
In very exposed
localities the plants should be lifted in the
autumn and stored away from frost in boxes of
sandy soil.
Propagation is from seed or by offsets from old
bulbs.
The flowering season is from July to September.
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