Fortnight Lily

Fortnight Lily 'White Tiger' (Dietes iridioides 'White Tiger') is the variegated form of the strappy leaf that landscapers reach for when a planting has to look after itself. It holds a neat clump about 70cm tall and 60cm across, with upright fans of green leaves striped in cream, and it throws white iris flowers through the warm months. Drought, salt, poor soil and frost all leave it alone.

Why you'll love it

• Cream variegation that lifts a dark bed. The striping reads from a distance, so a mass planting looks lighter and more deliberate than plain green dietes.
• It survives real neglect. Drought tolerant, poor soil tolerant and frost hardy, which is why it turns up in car parks and median strips.
• Flowers on and off for months. White blooms with darker markings appear in flushes through spring and summer.
• Salt does not bother it. Coastal front gardens and pool surrounds suit it, and chlorine splash is not an issue.
• It stays where you plant it. A tidy clump at 60cm wide, so edges stay crisp.

Where it works best

Mass planting and borders. Plant 50cm apart for a solid mass planting. At that spacing the fans knit within two seasons and weeds lose the light they need.

Poolside and coastal gardens. Salt tolerant, tidy and low enough not to block a view. It sheds few leaves, which matters next to water.

Driveways and avenues. A repeated 50cm run either side of a drive gives rhythm without maintenance, and it copes with reflected heat off paving.

Growing fortnight lily in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun keeps the variegation brightest and the flowering heaviest, though it accepts part shade with looser growth. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. Frost hardy, so southern and inland districts are fine.

Soil. Almost anything that drains. It handles poor and sandy ground where other border plants sulk, and clay is workable if the bed is raised. Mulch 50mm deep between plants while they fill in.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to settle the roots, then only in long dry spells. A light application of complete fertiliser in early spring is plenty. Overfeeding gives soft floppy leaves.

Pruning. Snap or cut spent flower stems at the base rather than trimming them halfway, since the stems keep flowering from the same point. Every few years, cut a tired clump back hard in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in a single size, a 140mm pot sold in packs of ten, which is the practical unit for a border or a mass planting. Plants arrive as established young clumps with several fans each, not divisions, so they go straight into the ground.

Strappy plants travel well. Expect some leaf creasing in transit and a quiet few weeks while the roots take, then steady growth through the first warm season and a full clump by the end of year two. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider grasses and strappy leaf range.
• See our picks for edging plants that hold a clean line.
• Compare options for poolside gardens.
• Plan a larger scheme with our mass planting range.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Fifty centimetres apart in a staggered row or grid. Closer than that and the clumps crowd each other into untidy fans; wider and you wait an extra season for cover.

Does it self seed and become a nuisance?

It can set seed in warm gardens. Cutting spent flower stems at the base after each flush deals with it, and this variegated form is less vigorous than the plain species.

Will the variegation hold in shade?

Partly. In part shade the cream stripes stay but the clump grows looser and flowers less. Full sun gives the strongest contrast.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a pot 300mm or wider with free draining mix. Divide it every three or four years.