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Dierama pendulum (Fairy Wand) - A perennial arising from a corm with long thin grassy leaves that can grow from 3 to 4 feet tall and form a clump to 2 to 3 feet wide. From late spring well into summer appear the tall (4-5 feet tall) flower stalks that arch over under the weight of the bell-shaped flowers at their tips whose color varies from white to pink to rose.
Plant in full sun in a moderately well-draining soil and irrigate regularly to occasionally spring and early summer. It is cold hardy to 15 to 20° F. Discontinue watering during dormancy and try to prevent the dormant corms from sitting in overly wet soil through the winter. This is a charming and attractive plant that can be dramatic as a single specimen or planted in a well-spaced grouping so that its distinctive fan-like clumps of foliage can be appreciated.
Dierama pendulum's native range is from the southern and eastern cape from Knysa in the Western Cape province to Suurberg (Zuurberg) and Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape province, where it is found in grassy, marshy or rock strewn areas. It closely resembles the more common Dierama pulcherrimum but Dierama pendulum has bell shaped flowers with a rounded base while Dierama pulcherrimum has flowers with less spreading petals. The name for the genus name comes from the Greek word 'dierama' that means "funnel" and alludes to shape of the flower. The specific epithet is descriptive of its pendulous flowers.
Dierama are also commonly called hairbells because of the fine hairlike stem that the flowers hang from. Another common name is Angel's Fishing Rods and in the England they are typically called wand flowers or fairy wands.
The information displayed on this page about Dierama pendulum is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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