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Home > Plant profiles > Fairy’s Fishing Rod
Fairy’s Fishing Rod
 Botanical name: Dierama pulcherrimum ‘Deep Maroon’.
Common Names: Harebells, Wand Flowers, Fairy Wands, Fishing Wands.
History: The original form of Dierama pulcherrimum was found in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was found to be restricted to the area between the Keiskama and Buffalo Rivers near East London.
Origin: South Africa.
Name: The name Dierama is from the Greek word for funnel in reference to the shape of the flowers.
Comments: Of all the plants in a summer garden Dierama pulcherrimum really stands out. The character of this plant really shines through during the flowering season but the foliage forms an attractive garden feature throughout the year. Before flowering the plant looks like an attractive grass but once the flowers open they are by no means grass like. The attractive ‘bells’ open from the tip of the stem down and due to their weight ‘dance’ and ‘wave’ in any slight breeze. If sited near to water there will be no mistaking why these plants are known as ‘Fairy’s Fishing Rods’.
Tips: Once established these plants soon form a lovely dense clump. They can get overcrowded (indicated by a decreasing amount of flowers). When this occurs dig up the corms after flowering, divide them into smaller clumps and spread them out. Care must be taken during this process as the roots are very brittle. They will not flower in the year that they have been dug as they resent disturbance. Separated corms can be used as a gift for ‘green-fingered’ friends, take to the church fete or moved to suitable parts of the garden. They make sensational plants for pots. When established Dierama will seed itself in any gap it can find in the garden. To reduce unwanted plants remove the flower heads just prior to their being spent.
Contacts:
www.global-garden.com.au
www.bulbsociety.com
www.suite101.com
Australian Bulb Association:
6 Waratah Way,Wodonga, 3690,
Victoria, Australia.
Phone: 612 6056 2510
Fax: 612 6056 2510
Family: Iridaceae.
Plant type: Bulbous evergreen.
Size (HxW): Clumps of fountaining foliage grow to 90cm x 90cm. The flowering ‘wands’ at 1.8m tall hold the flower above the foliage.
Depth and spacing: Plant to the same depth as in the pot and up to about 1m apart.
Watering: For the best results keep the soil moist.
Frost tolerances: Hardy.
Flowering time: Summer although they may not flower in the first year whilst they are establishing.
Soil: A heavier soil that does not dry out completely and is pH 6-7 best suits.
Aspect:Full sun to semi-shade.
Climate: Cool to Sub-tropical.
Pruning: For the sake of neatness cut away any foliage that disrupts the shape of the plant, otherwise leave alone.
Fertilizer: Apply a general purpose fertilizer each spring.
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