Grand Star™ Dietes

Grand Star Dietes (Dietes grandiflora 'DI1') is the fortnight lily for gardeners who like the plant but not its seedlings. It forms a stiff upright clump of dark green strappy leaves about 60cm to 70cm high and wide, carries white iris-like flowers marked with yellow and violet in flushes from spring into summer, and was selected by Ozbreed for a very low pollen count, so it rarely if ever sets viable seed. You get one of the toughest exotic landscape plants in the country without it seeding through the garden.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers without the seedlings. The common form of Dietes grandiflora seeds freely into paths, lawns and neighbouring beds. Grand Star produced a low percentage of seed in field trials and rarely sets any that grow.
• Takes heat, drought, humidity and frost. Once established it shrugs off dry summers, humid coastal weather and winter frost alike.
• Almost no maintenance. It needs cutting back every five to seven years on average, if at all. There is no yearly mow.
• A clean architectural shape. The fan of upright leaves holds its line all year, so it reads as deliberate planting even in a bed nobody has touched for months.
• Not fussy about soil. Sand, loam or clay all suit it, provided water does not sit around the crown for weeks.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 45cm apart in offset rows, which is four to six plants per square metre. The clumps touch within two seasons and shade out most weeds beneath them.

Borders and driveways. A single row at 40cm to 50cm spacing, two to three plants per metre, gives an even upright edge that bikes, wheelie bins and footballs do not flatten.

Feature clumps and pots. One plant in a wide pot, or a group of three among boulders or beside a dry creek bed, shows the flowers at their best.

Growing Grand Star Dietes in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with the heaviest flowering in sun. Ozbreed recommends it for southern Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, which covers subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. In the wet tropics it is better left to other strappy plants.

Soil. Most soil types suit it. Plant into a well mulched bed and use a chunky mulch that lets water through and keeps the crown dry.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks until established, then leave it to the weather in all but the longest dry spells. A slow release fertiliser in spring is optional rather than necessary.

Pruning. Spent flower stems can be snipped off for a tidy look. Every five to seven years, cut the whole clump back hard in late winter and it regrows fresh and full by summer.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Grand Star Dietes in 140mm pots in packs of 10, enough for a border or a small drift. Plants travel upright in their pots and settle quickly. Expect new leaves within a few weeks in the warmer half of the year and the first flowers from the following spring.

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 fortnight lily care guide
• Browse the full Ozbreed range
• More grasses and strappy leaf plants
• Drought tolerant plants for dry gardens

Common questions

Will it seed into my lawn like ordinary dietes?

Very rarely. Grand Star has a very low pollen count and seldom produces viable seed. Common Dietes grandiflora is a different story.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 45cm apart for a massed effect, or 40cm to 50cm apart in a single row for a border. Give a feature clump about 70cm all round to show its shape.

Does it cope with frost?

Yes. It tolerates frost as well as heat and humidity, so it suits cold inland gardens as well as the coast.