African Iris, Delivered and Planted in Southwest Florida
African iris is a tough, clumping, fan-leaved plant that does well in Southwest Florida in sun or part shade. It handles heat, sandy soil and dry spells once established, and its white flowers marked with yellow and violet come in repeated flushes through much of the year. It works best as a border, a foundation edge or a mass planting. Our crew delivers and plants 3 and 7 gallon pots.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Moderate; handles some spray, not salty soil
African Iris sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| African Iris | 3 Gallon, 7 Gallon |
African Iris in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 2 to 4 ft tall and 2 to 3 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate; handles some spray, not salty soil
- Cold tolerance
- Light frost browns leaf tips; clumps regrow after a hard freeze
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 2 to 3 ft on center for mass plantings
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Dietes iridioides
Where African Iris works in a SW Florida yard
African iris gives a bed upright, sword-like structure that holds its shape all year. Use it along a foundation, behind a lower groundcover, or in drifts of five to seven under a palm. Bloom is best with at least half a day of sun, while part shade keeps the clumps greener against a hot western wall.
Pair it with Blue Daze, Society Garlic and Liriope for a low-water bed, or with Bromeliads and Ti Plant for a tropical look.
- Foundation and walkway borders
- Mass planting under palms
- Pool and patio edges
- Low-water sunny beds
How our crew plants it
Set African iris with the base of the fan at or just above the soil line, since a buried crown invites rot. Dig a wide, shallow hole, backfill with the native soil, and keep mulch off the fans. Space clumps 2 to 3 ft apart.
Our crew waters each one in, and new plantings can have extra water under Lee and Collier rules for the first couple of months. After that, the 2-day schedule is usually plenty.
Care after planting
- Leave the flower stalks in place, since new blooms come from the same spurs, and trim only the stalks that have turned brown.
- Pull or cut dead leaves at the base each spring instead of shearing the whole clump flat.
- Water deeply but not often once established, and keep sprinkler heads from soaking the base of the fans.
- Feed lightly in spring and early fall, since Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 to September 30.
What to watch for
- Crown and root rot show up in soggy soil or when the crown is buried too deep.
- Leaf rust and scale can mark the foliage in humid weather, so thin crowded clumps and avoid watering at night.
African Iris questions we hear
How far apart do you plant African iris?+
Space them 2 to 3 ft apart, measured center to center. Closer spacing fills a bed faster but crowds the clumps within a few years. In a single-row border, 2 ft gives a continuous look. Set each plant at the same depth as the pot, with the base of the fan at soil level.
Does African iris bloom all year in Florida?+
It blooms in repeated flushes from spring through fall and often through mild winters, though not nonstop. Each flower lasts a day or two, and new ones come from the same stalk, so leave the stalks alone. More sun and less nitrogen mean more flowers.
Can African iris take full sun in Cape Coral?+
Yes. It does well in full sun and in part shade. In full sun it blooms more and needs a little more water while it is getting established. In deep shade it stays green but flowers sparingly, so give it at least half a day of sun if you want a good show.
Is African iris salt tolerant?+
Moderately. It handles some salt spray on canal and coastal lots but does best a row or two back from the water. Salty soil and brackish flooding can brown the leaf tips and weaken the clump. For beachfront exposure, choose a tougher coastal plant.
Will African iris survive a freeze?+
It handles light frost, and the leaf tips may brown. A hard freeze can burn the foliage, but the clump usually regrows from the base in spring. Cut back damaged leaves once the cold has passed. Inland lots in Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers see the most damage.
How much does it cost to have African iris planted?+
The planted price changes with pot size and plant count, so we text it rather than list a range. Request a quote with your address and the bed you have in mind, and a text usually comes back within the hour during the day. From there, half down holds the plants and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on African Iris
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.