Dierama pulcherrimum. Image: Tim Sandall
Common name: Angel’s fishing rod
Latin name: Dierama
Group: Cormous perennial
Cultivation
Dieramas are native to Eastern and Southern Africa. In the wild they grow in moist grassland. Plants grow from corms that build up year by year into chains, similar to Crocosmia. They make clumps of long, narrow leaves and, in summer, bear elegant pendulous, bell-shaped flowers, usually pink in colour, borne on graceful arching stems which, in some species, are 90-180cm (3 - 6ft) long.
Dieramas are best planted 5-7cm (2 - 2 1/2in) deep in spring in an open, sunny position in a fertile, loamy, moist but well drained soil that neither dries out in summer or becomes waterloggd in winter. Heavier clay soils and lighter sandy soils should be improved by the incorporation of well-rotted organic matter. Alternatively, they do well in raised beds.
Most dieramas are frost hardy. In dry summers water well. Plants are semi-evergreen but older, unsightly foliage can be cut away in spring. Apply a general purpose fertilizer such as blood, fish and bone or growmore in spring.
Dieramas need adequate space to look their best. They can be planted in borders or gravel gardens and associate well with ornamental grasses. They are attractive near water but careful positioning is necessary as the corms must not get too wet over winter. Dieramas can be planted in containers of John Innes No.2 but generally they grow better planted in the soil.
Propagation
Dieramas can be propagated from seed or by dividing plants.
Sow seed thinly, as soon as it is ripe, in pots of John Innes seed compost and place in a cold frame. Prick out and grow on with one seedling per pot in a frost-free place. Plant out in the garden the following spring. Flowering often takes five years from seed.
Named cultivars are propagated by division in spring or immediately after flowering but this should only be undertaken occasionally as plants are slow to re-establish. Divisions take one to two years to flower freely again.
Problems
Dieramas grow with easily with few problems. Divisions and young plants are slow to establish but once settled are generally trouble free. Aphids may attack the foliage and mice the corms.
In cultivation dieramas often cross pollinate. Many plants sold as D. pulcherimum are often hybrids but still very attractive plants.
Cultivar selection
Many cultivars can be found in nurseries, however these are recommended:
D. dracomontanum
D. igneum
D. pulcherrimum
