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Plant care

Nodding Wand Flower (Grassy bells) care

Dierama pendulum

Also called Nodding wand flower, Grassy bells, Fairy wand.

RHS H4USDA 7-9Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 90–120 cm tall in flower

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Heavy from early spring to late summer; reduced in autumn and winter

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Slightly acidic, well-composted loam

Humidity

Moderate

Temp

-5 to 30°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

90–120 cm tall in flower

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Requires as sunny a position as possible, including during its winter rest phase; insufficient winter light prevents flowering the following season even though the plant appears dormant. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for nodding wand flower — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering nodding wand flower: heavy from early spring to late summer; reduced in autumn and winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water generously from early spring until late summer to support active growth and flowering; reduce watering as temperatures cool in autumn but never allow corms to fully desiccate.

Soil and pot

Nodding Wand Flower grows best in slightly acidic, well-composted loam. Prefers a humus-rich, moderately fertile loam; unlike most Dierama species, D. pendulum can perform well in both free-draining and moisture-retentive soils, but will not tolerate waterlogged, stagnant conditions. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Nodding Wand Flower sits happiest at around Moderate humidity and -5 to 30°C (23 to 86°F). Adapted to the humid conditions of its montane South African habitat; maintain consistent soil moisture rather than relying on atmospheric humidity. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed nodding wand flower sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring; supplement with a liquid high-potassium feed fortnightly during the active growth period from spring to midsummer. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on nodding wand flower in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Desiccation of corms when lifted — The corms are never truly dormant and will quickly desiccate and die if lifted and stored dry as one would treat true summer-dormant bulbs. Always leave corms in the ground or in barely moist compost if pot-grown.
  • Failure to flower after cutting back foliage — Removing healthy green leaves — even old, tatty ones — seriously retards growth and flowering. Remove only the outer brown, dead leaves by gentle tugging; never shear the plant to the ground.

Propagation

Divide established clumps in early spring, ensuring divisions retain several corms and healthy roots; expect reduced flowering for one season. Can also be grown from seed sown fresh in autumn in a cold frame, with seedlings reaching flowering size in three to five years. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Nodding Wand Flower is mildly toxic to pets. Dierama pendulum is not individually listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. No specific toxic principle has been confirmed for the species, but given its membership of the Iridaceae family and insufficient safety data, a precautionary mildly-toxic classification is used. Seek veterinary advice promptly if a pet ingests any part of this plant. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Nodding Wand Flower care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Dierama pendulum?

Dierama pendulum is most commonly called Nodding Wand Flower, but it is also known as Nodding wand flower, Grassy bells, Fairy wand. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Nodding Wand Flower apply identically to anything sold as Grassy bells.

How much light does nodding wand flower need?

Nodding Wand Flower grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires as sunny a position as possible, including during its winter rest phase; insufficient winter light prevents flowering the following season even though the plant appears dormant.

How often should I water nodding wand flower?

Water nodding wand flower heavy from early spring to late summer; reduced in autumn and winter. Water generously from early spring until late summer to support active growth and flowering; reduce watering as temperatures cool in autumn but never allow corms to fully desiccate. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is nodding wand flower toxic to cats and dogs?

Nodding Wand Flower is mildly toxic to pets. Dierama pendulum is not individually listed in the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant database. No specific toxic principle has been confirmed for the species, but given its membership of the Iridaceae family and insufficient safety data, a precautionary mildly-toxic classification is used. Seek veterinary advice promptly if a pet ingests any part of this plant.

What USDA hardiness zone does nodding wand flower grow in?

Nodding Wand Flower is rated for USDA zone 7-9 and RHS hardiness H4. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Nodding Wand Flower deep-dive guides

Every aspect of nodding wand flower care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Nodding Wand Flower qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Nodding Wand Flower is also known as Nodding wand flower, Grassy bells, and Fairy wand.