Angel's Fishing Rod (Dierama pendulum) is a graceful cormous perennial native to Africa, prized for its arching wiry stems that rise 24 to 36 inches tall, topped with pendulous bell-shaped flowers in shades of purplish-pink to coral-pink that bloom from June through August. Hardy in zones 7 to 9, this plant forms a striking clump of slender, grass-like foliage and produces delicate, showy flowers on gently arching stalks that seem to dance in the slightest breeze. It tolerates drought and shallow, rocky soils once established, making it a resilient choice for gardeners seeking something truly distinctive.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-10
24in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Those arching flower stems create an unmistakable silhouette in the summer garden, rising up to 3 feet with dozens of pendulous blooms that catch the light beautifully. The plant's drought tolerance and ability to thrive in shallow, rocky conditions means it works in places where other ornamentals struggle. Once established, it asks very little of you while delivering months of refined, airy elegance that belies its toughness.
Angel's Fishing Rod serves primarily as an ornamental accent in garden beds and borders, where its arching flower stems create vertical interest and movement. In zones 7 to 9, it can be planted directly in the ground as a perennial; in colder regions, gardeners grow it in containers and treat it as an annual, moving plants indoors before the first frost to overwinter in a cool, dry location. The grass-like foliage and pendulous flowers work especially well in cottage gardens, meadow plantings, and anywhere you want softness and airiness rather than structural density.
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Wait until soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed before transplanting container-grown plants outdoors. Space clumps at least 12 to 18 inches apart to allow room for their spread. Water newly planted corms regularly during the establishment period until they show signs of active growth.
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“Dierama pendulum hails from the moist grasslands of southeastern South Africa, where it grows as a slow-building perennial that gradually expands into impressive clumps. The plant has earned several common names over time, wand flower and grassy bells among them, reflecting its distinctive form and the way gardeners have embraced it across temperate regions. Its journey from African native to cultivation in Northern gardens represents a quiet success story of a plant that adapts to container growing in colder climates while thriving in ground where winters are mild.”