Dietes iridioides (L.) Sweet ex Klatt

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Found by Thunberg in the interior of the Cape country in Hottentot’s Holland, in a wood not far from Sea-Cow River, near a house called Kock’s-Farm.  Cultivated by Miller in 1758, who received the seeds from the Cape, under the title of “White Water-Lily”; it is of the easiest culture, and will grow many years together (without parting or removing) in the same pot; requires plenty of water; blooms several weeks in succession during the Summer months,; produces seed in abundance; owing to which and its long standing in the country it is now one of the commonest of its tribe in our collections; has no smell.

Our drawing was taken at the Botanic Gardens, Brompton.  We are rather surprised it has not before been discovered to be the same with Thunberg’s Iris compressa; his description is full and correct.’  [BM t.693/1803].

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [B.107/1857].  Naturalised at Camden Park.  It has been widely planted in Australia as a hardy, trouble-free, drought resistant plant and is now a significant weed in parts.

Notes