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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Iridaceae (Irises) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: 3-4 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Dietes grandiflora 'Gray Ghost' (Gray Striped Fortnight Lily) - This evergreen rhizomatous perennial produces clumps of long, upright narrow leaves that reach 3 feet tall. Unlike the species, this selection has gray-green leaves that have with creamy-white marginal stripes. The flowers rise above the foliage and have outer white petals with a golden area near the base and the inner petals are white, flecked with brown at the base. The inner most petal-like structures, called style branches are violet colored. Flowers year round in coastal southern California gardens with individual flower lasting only a few days and are quickly followed by new flowers. Flushes of flowers appear on roughly a two week cycle which has given this plant its common name of fortnight lily. The fortnight lily is very drought tolerant in shade but can also be grown in full sun with regular to occasional irrigation. Seems to bloom best with regular watering. A good container plant or used in mass plantings or as a solitary accent clump. Hardy to 15 degrees F. This selection is slightly smaller than other Dietes grandiflora varieties that we grow but most other aspects are similar - for more general information on it see Dietes grandiflora. It originated as a selection we made from our stock plants of the more common cream striped greener leafed selection that we list as Dietes grandiflora 'Variegata' from which it differs in being a slightly shorter plant with even grayer foliage and a whiter variegation. We also grow Dietes grandiflora 'Sunstripe' that has green leaves striped with yellow.
The information about Dietes grandiflora 'Gray Ghost' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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