Dietes robinsonianaI planted seed of this bulb almost 20 years ago, so it was very exciting to see two scapes of buds on the clump when it finally bloomed in October 2013. Often called the Lord Howe island wedding lily (ht 1-1.5 m), it is only found naturally in margins of forest on Lord Howe Island and is a member of the Iridaceae family. Its leaves are much broader and taller, and the clump more statuesque than the common-and-garden Dietes grandiflora that is used as a plant for spots where very little else will thrive, but is actually a weedy menace. The lovely white flowers are large and satiny (about 7 cm wide) and have a yellow centre. Each bloom lasts but a day but each morning another group open, and they flower for over a month. However, it has to be noted that flowering can be quite unpredictable and may not occur some years. The plant requires well-drained moist soils in sun or part shade and should be protected from frost.
This bulb only flowered that once! In the end, I transplanted it to a coastal garden and await further developments!