Wild iris

I have a small area not far from my house with a bike path and not much else. It runs parallel to the DuPage River, and is mainly overgrown with vegetation. I've notice that each year this area looks different. Two years ago it was blanketed solid with coreopsis and other wilflowers, it really was a sight to see. Last year after the early warm spell followed by a week of freezing temps, nothing was blooming. This year I got a surprise on my first visit. The lupines are huge this year, close…

Wild Iris, Dietes grandiflora Dietes differs from iris in having flowers with six free tepals that are not joined into a tube at their bases. Iris To see more flowers from around the world click here.

Wild Iris

Great Blue-flag Iris (Iris virginica [as Iris caroliniana])

Dietes grandiflora, 'Fortnight Lily,' 'African Iris.' Common streetside landscaping plant in southern California, because it is tough, reliable and can take the sun & heat, as long as adequate water is provided. I wonder how it will do here in cool summer/rainy winter coastal northern California? Image: grevilleanursery.com.au (they call it 'Wild Iris'), but the best and most detailed information about it is found here: http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=513 .

Discover the beauty and versatility of Butterfly Grass Dietes. Perfect for modern landscapes, this plant thrives in difficult sites and produces stunning butterfly-like flowers.