Banana Split™ Dietes

Banana Split Dietes (Dietes grandiflora 'Di3') is a variegated fortnight lily, each strappy leaf striped cream and green, on a tough clump 60cm to 80cm high and 50cm to 70cm wide. From October to January it carries white iris flowers splashed with purple above the foliage. It is an Ozbreed line that tolerates drought, heat, humidity and frost, so it works Australia wide.

Why you'll love it

• Clean variegated foliage all year. The cream and green stripes brighten a bed in winter when nothing is flowering, and the leaves stay tidy without fuss.
• White and purple flowers through summer. Flushes of iris like flowers come from October to January, each one short lived but followed by the next.
• Tolerates almost everything. Drought, heat, humidity and frost, in most soil types. Few variegated plants carry that list.
• Years between prunes. A cut back every four to seven years is all it asks.
• Works in the tropics and the south. One of the few strappy leaf plants that performs from Darwin to Hobart.

Where it works best

Borders along fences and paths. Plant 50cm apart in a single row, two to three plants per metre, for a continuous striped edge that softens a fence line or a path.

Mass planting. Set 60cm apart in offset rows, about three plants per square metre, and the clumps meet within two seasons to form a weed suppressing carpet.

Specimen and contrast planting. A single clump against dark green foliage or a rendered wall shows the variegation at its best. It also suits a large pot.

Growing Banana Split Dietes in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade; the variegation is brightest with at least half a day of sun. It is listed for the whole country, from tropical and subtropical gardens through warm and cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi arid climates.

Soil. Most soil types, from sand to clay. Good drainage helps in heavy ground, but it is far less fussy about wet winters than most strappy plants.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks, then it copes on rainfall in most gardens. Mulch with a chunky mulch and apply a slow release fertiliser once a year.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems if you want a tidier look, and cut the clump back by half every four to seven years in late winter to renew it. Dietes can self seed in warm climates, so cutting off finished stems also limits seedlings.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Banana Split Dietes in 200mm pots in packs of 6, a well established size that shows the variegation from the day it goes in and gives a border or a massed bed an immediate presence. The clumps travel upright, settle within a few weeks and begin dividing at the base in the first growing season.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Our dietes and fortnight lily care guide
• See the full Ozbreed range
• Browse grasses and strappy leaf plants
• More drought tolerant plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a border?

Plant 50cm apart in a single row. For a massed bed, 60cm in staggered rows.

Will the variegation hold?

Yes, the striping is stable. If a plain green shoot ever appears, cut it out at the base so it does not outgrow the striped foliage.

Does it handle frost?

Yes. It tolerates frost, heat, humidity and drought, which is why it is listed for every state and territory.