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Diuris spp.

double tails

Orchidaceae Australia (and Timor)

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Diuris spp. is a genus of about 70 terrestrial orchids in the family Orchidaceae, native to Australia with one species extending to Timor. Plants grow from paired underground tubers as seasonal geophytes, emerging in autumn and winter, flowering in spring, and dying back to the tuber over the dry summer. One to several grass-like leaves rise from the base, 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) long. Flowering stems reach 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) and carry one to ten flowers each. The flowers hold an erect central pair of petals above two narrow lateral sepals that hang downward, the feature behind the common name double tails; many are yellow marked with brown, purple, or mauve, while others are white, orange, or pink. Several species bloom through deceptive pollination, resembling unrelated pea and lily flowers to draw in native bees but producing no nectar. Diuris spp. occupies grasslands, open woodland, and seasonally moist flats, and depends on symbiotic soil fungi for germination. Many species have narrow ranges, and some are reduced by habitat loss and grazing.

Native Range

Australia, across all mainland states, with the greatest diversity in the south and east. One species reaches the island of Timor.

Suggested Uses

Diuris spp. is grown chiefly by terrestrial orchid enthusiasts and in conservation collections rather than in general garden borders. In the wild it forms part of native grassland and woodland ground flora.

How to Identify

Identified by an erect central pair of petals held above the flower and two narrow lateral sepals that point downward like tails. Blooms are commonly yellow with brown or purple markings, borne one to ten per stem. The grass-like basal leaves and paired underground tubers separate Diuris spp. from the pea plants it sometimes mimics.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 2'

Width/Spread4" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Most species flower in spring, roughly August to November in their native range, after a winter growth period. Individual flowers last several weeks. Many Diuris spp. are pollinated by deception, drawing native bees that mistake them for nectar-bearing pea or lily flowers, so seed set varies from year to year with pollinator activity.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Yellow with brown or purple markings; also white, orange, or pink

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years from seed to flowering

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Diuris spp. are winter-growing, summer-dormant terrestrial orchids suited to open positions with full sun to light shade and free-draining soils. Growth begins with autumn rains; plants need moisture through winter and spring, then a dry, warm dormancy once the foliage withers. Germination and long-term vigor depend on symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, which makes the genus hard to establish away from its native habitat. In cultivation they are grown by specialist orchid growers in pots of free-draining mix and kept dry over summer. Tubers multiply slowly, forming small colonies over several seasons.