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Dierama pulcherrimum Merlin

Dierama pulcherrimum Merlin
Angel's fishing Rod, Wedding bells

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More information

A vigorous, flowering and slightly hardier variety, which is also distinguished by its very dark flowering. This Dierama produces graceful, flexible and arched flowering stems among its long, narrow leaves in summer, bearing charming bell-shaped flowers of a very dark purple-red colour, appearing almost black. This perennial plant with corms is cultivated in the sun, in a moist but well-drained soil, enriched with sand, dry in winter but moist in summer, like a crocosmia.
Flower size
6 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
60 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -9°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time April
Recommended planting time March to May, September to October
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Flowering time July to August
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Description

Dierama pulcherrimum 'Merlin' is a recent variety of angel's fishing rod, which has attracted a lot of attention during its appearance. Vigorous and floriferous, this plant also withstands the cold better and is unusual with the very dark colour of its flowers.  Trembling like a grass, this tall variety forms a clump of grass-like leaves from which long, flexible and arching flower stems emerge in summer, bearing delightful pendulous bell-shaped flowers in dark violet-purple colour with black reflections. Dierama is a somewhat delicate plant: plant it in a sunny spot in light, sandy and moist soil in summer, drier in winter, and protect it from heavy frosts. Its exceptional beauty is well worth attempting to acclimatise it to the garden!

 

Dierama pulcherrimum is a slow-growing perennial plant with corms, belonging to the Iridaceae family. This perennial is native to the wet and marshy meadows of East Africa and South Africa. Its vegetation persists more or less in winter depending on the climate. The 'Merlin' variety is hardy down to about -10°C (14°F), in very well-draining soil. It looks a bit like a grass, with an erect clump of green leaves reaching at least 50 cm (20in) in height and, after many years, 1 m (3ft) in diameter at the base. In summer, from July to August, long, slender and sturdy flower stems, reaching 1 m (3ft) to 1.20 m (4ft) in height, emerge from the foliage, gracefully bending under the weight of the flowers. They bear branched spikes of bell-shaped or tubular flowers, 6 cm (2in) long, which bloom one after the other. The nectar-rich flowers attract many pollinating insects. The pollinated flowers give way to small ovoid capsules containing numerous small, hard brown seeds, which will germinate after the winter cold. Plants grown from seed will flower after 5 to 7 years of cultivation.

 

Invite 'Merlin' Dierama to your garden as it deserves a prominent place planted in a large pot on the patio, placed in isolation, along a pathway, or in a bed not far from water. Dierama pulcherrimum is very well suited to coastal areas where it appreciates the humid atmosphere and can withstand the salty sea breeze. This plant looks stunning in a bed alongside grasses (Miscanthus, Eragrostis, Panicum), Phormium, lychnis, or along a pathway, especially when the light shines through its flowered vegetation from behind. Near a pond, it can be paired, for example, with loosestrifes, lamb's ears, purple phormium, Gomphostigma virgatum Silver Butterfly, or even meadow rues (Thalictrum delavayi, Thalictrum flavum ssp. Glaucum).

Dierama pulcherrimum Merlin in pictures

Dierama pulcherrimum Merlin (Flowering) Flowering

Flowering

Flower colour violet
Flowering time July to August
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 6 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour medium green
Foliage description More or less evergreen foliage depending on the severity of the winter with very narrow, stiff leaves.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 60 cm
Growth rate slow

Botanical data

Genus

Dierama

Species

pulcherrimum

Cultivar

Merlin

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

Angel's fishing Rod, Wedding bells

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference860181

Other Dierama

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20% €22.00 €27.50 2L/3L pot
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From €24.50 2L/3L pot
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Available in 2 sizes

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€24.50 2L/3L pot

Planting and care

Plant your Dierama plucherrimum in a sunny spot, in light, well-prepared, humus-rich soil, which is enriched with coarse sand but remains moist in summer, but well-drained to avoid corm rot in waterlogged soil. This plant does not tolerate excessive limestone in the soil. Its cultivation is a bit delicate during the first few years, where it will require careful attention, but once established, the plant is less demanding in terms of water and better able to withstand normal winters. Hardy down to -10°C (14°F), we recommend protecting your plant in winter with a thick mulch, but you can also grow it in large pots that you will shelter in winter. In pots, monitor watering during the growing season. In winter, on the other hand, during the dormancy period, the soil should remain just moist, never waterlogged. Dierama does not appreciate pruning (except for faded flowers), as it slows down its growth.

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Planting period

Best planting time April
Recommended planting time March to May, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Pond edge
Type of use Border, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -9°C (USDA zone 8b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Well-drained

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Needs protection

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