Plant · GBIF taxon 2742454
Yellow Fortnight Lily
Dietes bicolorAlso known as African Iris, Butterfly Flag, Peacock Flower, Yellow Wild Iris
Yellow fortnight lilies form dense evergreen clumps of sword-shaped leaves that produce delicate yellow blooms at regular two-week intervals throughout spring and summer. Each soft yellow flower features three distinct dark brown spots edged in orange near the petal bases, attracting native bees and hoverflies. Naturally adapted to dry periods, these hardy perennials thrive in coastal brush, grasslands, and landscaped borders across warm climates.
EvergreenFloweringPerennial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Aphids
ThreatsSevere frost, prolonged waterlogging
HabitatsGrasslands, coastal scrub, cultivated gardens
Life span10–20+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyIridaceae
- GenusDietes
- SpeciesDietes bicolor
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Foliage and rhizomes are toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; keep pets from chewing leaves.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains iridoid compounds and resins that cause gastrointestinal distress and vomiting if eaten by pets or humans.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by pale yellow iris-like flowers with three dark purple or maroon spots on broad fans of sword-like leaves.
- What to do
- Keep out of reach of livestock and domestic pets, and wash hands after handling damaged foliage or roots.
Responsible observation
- Sunlight Needs: Plant in full sun to partial shade for the most reliable flowering cycles.
- Pruning Care: Cut old flowering stalks at the base after blooms fade to maintain neat growth.
- Division Strategy: Divide large overcrowded clumps in spring to rejuvenate foliage and boost flowering.
Ecological Look-Alike Myrabella / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative O Tupinólogo / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Scott Edmunds · cc0
Close Relative (c) Quartl, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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