Peacock Flower

Peacock Flower (Dietes bicolor) is the plant landscapers reach for when a bed has to look good with nobody looking after it. It forms an evergreen strappy clump about 1m tall and 1m across, and sends up pale yellow flowers in flushes over months. Frost, drought, heat, salt air and poor soil are all within its range.

Why you'll love it

• It shrugs off conditions. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant and happy in poor soil, all in the one plant.
• Flowers for months, not weeks. Individual blooms are short lived, but they come in waves through the warm season.
• Structure all year. The upright fans of foliage stay green and tidy through winter, so a border never looks empty.
• It suits almost the whole country. Subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens all work.

Where it works best

Mass planting and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a solid mass planting. In a single row along a path or driveway the same spacing gives a continuous edge.

Poolside. Salt tolerance covers both sea air and chlorinated splash, and the upright foliage stays tidy rather than dropping litter into the water.

Coastal gardens and pots. It holds up on exposed coastal blocks, and a clump in a 400mm pot suits a hot paved courtyard where softer plants scorch.

Growing peacock flower in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering; part shade means fewer blooms and a looser habit. Being frost hardy it works as far south as cool temperate gardens, and it is equally at home in arid inland conditions.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It is genuinely poor soil tolerant, so a compacted new estate bed or a sandy coastal one is no barrier. Improve heavy clay with compost.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then it needs very little. Feeding is optional: one dose of slow release fertiliser in early spring is more than enough, and rich soil produces leaf at the cost of flower.

Pruning. Do not shear it across the top, which leaves blunt brown ends that take a season to grow out. Pull or cut old leaves at the base instead, and divide crowded clumps every four or five years.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes three ways. Tube stock is the value option for a big planting, small now but quick to bulk up. The 140mm plants come in packs of ten and the 200mm in packs of six, both already forming a fan of foliage.

Strappy foliage travels well, and a few creased leaves after transit are cosmetic. Expect a few quiet weeks, then new growth from the centre. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to choosing the right edging plants.
• Browse more mass planting plants.
• Compare other grasses and strappy leaf plants.
• See what else suits a poolside garden.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

50cm apart for a solid mass planting or a continuous edge. Wider spacing at around 70cm reads as individual clumps, which suits a rockery or a mixed border.

Is it safe around pets?

It is not one we list as pet friendly. Dietes belongs to the iris family, so keep it away from a dog or cat that chews plants.

Does it need cutting back?

Not in the usual sense. Remove tired leaves at the base as they age and leave the rest alone, particularly the flower stems, which carry new buds season after season.

Will it handle frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy and holds its foliage through cold winters, unusual for a plant that also copes with arid heat. Cool temperate gardens can plant it out with confidence.