Dietes x 'Nola Alba'

Katrina African iris

This plant was patented as Dietes x 'Nola Alba' and is being marketed as Katrina African iris. The patent description says that it is a hybrid of Dietes bicolor and D. iridioides. It is reported to have more flowers per stalk and have a longer flowering season because it produces few seeds than the parents. The leaves are similar to those of D. iridioides but are longer, wider and darker green. The flower is similar in shape to that of D. bicolor but is smaller and opens pale yellow. Each flower is open for one to two days. The plants are reported to be cold hardier and more resistant to crown rot in moist soils - like D. bicolor. The plant is listed for zone 8 and south. Based in its parentage, I suspect that plants will be more reliably cold hardy in zone 8b than in zone 8a.

I found plants recently in a local nursery. It is being distributed by a large national wholesale nursery. Since it is patented, this plant may not be propagated for sale or distribution without approval by the patent holder. 'Lemon Drop' and 'Orange Drop' are reported to be similar hybrids with the same parentage. They are uncommon but may be found in mail order catalogs.

I purchased a plant of 'Nola Alba' recently to try in my upper zone 9a garden. It was in flower when I got it in late May. It continued flowering into August and began flowering again in November.