Australians have loved Dietes plants for decades; they’re incredibly tough, they control erosion, they have pretty iris flowers, and they look great along with native Australian plantings even though they’re from Southern Africa.
But they’ve fallen out of favour in recent years, probably because they have a reputation for being weedy. You may be wondering if there are any varieties which are less likely to cause issues in your own garden, in public landscapes, or nearby bushland. If so, you’ve come to the right place, because I’ve got two excellent varieties to introduce you to.
Both of these varieties have lower pollen count and rarely, if ever, go to seed.
FINE DIVINE™ Dietes bicolor ‘Di2’
Fine Divine™ Dietes is a compact, ornamental variety of Dietes bicolor, distinguished by its finer leaves and low seed production.
It has bright yellow flowers, while its compact size (60–70cm tall and wide) makes it appear more refined than larger-leafed varieties. This hardy plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and can tolerate drought, frost, and humidity. Additionally, it adapts well to most soil types.
Fine Divine™ Dietes requires minimal maintenance, needing a cutback only once every six to eight years, if at all. For optimal results, it should be planted in a well-mulched garden bed, with watering provided during establishment (8–13 weeks). It’s an ideal option for residential and commercial spaces across South Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
FINE DIVINE™ Dietes https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/fine-divine-dietes/
FINE DIVINE™ Dietes https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/fine-divine-dietes/
GRAND STAR™ Dietes grandiflora ‘Di1’
Grand Star™ Dietes is a semi-compact form of Dietes grandiflora, renowned for its striking white flowers, enhanced by hints of purple and yellow.
Similar in size to Fine Divine™ Dietes, it reaches 60–70cm in height and width, and is equally robust. Tolerant of drought, heat, frost, and humidity, it flourishes in full sun to part shade and works well in most soil types. Like its counterpart, it needs little maintenance, requiring pruning every five to seven years at most.
Grand Star™ Dietes is particularly suited to residential and commercial landscapes where its bold flowers and hardy growth can truly shine, and where clients may be more open-minded to trying a plant that’s traditionally been considered a ‘weed’ (unlike most councils which are less ready to approve such plants based on the genus’s reputation). It performs best in mulched gardens and, like Fine Divine™ Dietes, requires watering during the initial establishment phase. This plant is also suitable for South Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
GRAND STAR™ Dietes https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/grand-star-dietes/
GRAND STAR™ Dietes https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/grand-star-dietes/
Key Differences
- Fine Divine™ Dietes features yellow flowers and finer leaves, while Grand Star™ Dietes produces white flowers with purple and yellow accents.
- Fine Divine™ Dietes requires pruning every 6–8 years, whereas Grand Star™ Dietes averages maintenance every 5–7 years.
- Both varieties share overall resilience, low seed production, and suitability for various climates and landscapes.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a non-weedy Dietes in Australia, these are possibly your best two options. If you’re looking for something compact and subtle with yellow flowers, try Fine Divine™ Dietes. But if you’re after bold white-with-purple-and-yellow floral shows, opt for Grand Star™ Dietes instead.