Dierama pulcherrimum Blackbird

Dierama pulcherrimum 'Blackbird', also known as Angel's Fishing Rod, is an infinitely graceful perennial plant. Light as a butterfly's flight, trembling like a grass, this beautiful tall variety forms a clump of grass-like leaves from which long, flexible and arching flower stalks emerge in summer, bearing delightful dark pink-red, bell-shaped, pendulous flowers that fade into a beautiful wine colour. Dierama is a moderately hardy plant, with somewhat delicate cultivation. Plant this marvel in a sunny spot in light, sandy and moist soil in summer, drier in winter. Protect it from severe frosts. Its exceptional beauty is well worth attempting to grow it in the garden!

Dierama pulcherrimum is a more or less evergreen plant with corms, belonging to the Iridaceae family. It is native to the wet and marshy meadows of East Africa and South Africa. The 'Blackbird' variety is somewhat like a grass, with an erect clump composed of green leaves reaching 50cm (20in) in height and, after many years, 1m (3ft) in diameter at the base. From June to August, long slender and sturdy stems, reaching 1 to 1.5m (3 to 5ft) in length, emerge from the foliage, bending under the weight of the flowering. At their tips, they bear branched spikes of campanulate or tubular flowers, 6cm (2in) long, which bloom one after the other. The nectar-rich flowering attracts many pollinating insects. The fertilised flowers give way to small ovoid capsules containing numerous small, hard brown seeds, which will germinate after the winter cold. Plants grown from seeds will flower after 5 to 7 years of cultivation.

Invite 'Blackbird' into your garden It deserves a special place, planted in a large pot on a patio, planted alone, at the end of a path or in a bed not far from a water source. Dierama pulcherrimum is hardy down to -8C° (17.6°F). It is very well adapted to the seaside, and tolerates wind carrying salty spray. It looks superb alongside grasses (Miscanthus, Eragrostis, Panicum), or as a border plant, especially when the light shines through its flowering vegetation from the opposite direction. Near a pond, it can be planted with, for example, willowherbs, lamb's ears, a purple phormium, Gomphostigma virgatum 'Silver Butterfly' or even meadow rues (Thalictrum delavayi, Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum).