Flower Library
Angels Fishing Rod
Dierama · Iridaceae
The angels fishing rod is one of the most poetic flowers of summer: bell-shaped blooms in pink to purple sway on hair-fine, elegantly arching stems. In floristry it is a rarity for naturalistic, movement-filled arrangements. Anyone who has had it in a bouquet once will ask for it again.
- Season
- June – July – August
- Vase life
- 5–8 days
- Latin name
- Dierama
- Colors
- Pink, Bright pink, Purple, White, Pale lilac
The best-known species is Dierama pulcherrimum with flowering arches up to one and a half metres long; alongside it come more compact species such as Dierama dracomontanum and white as well as dark selections like ‚Blackbird‘. The grassy clumps are evergreen — in the garden the plant looks like a fine ornamental grass even out of bloom.
What makes it special is movement: unlike almost every other cut flower, the angels fishing rod does not stand, it sways. The slightest draught sets the bells dancing. That is exactly why you never bind it in tightly, but let the arches swing freely beyond the bouquet.
In the vase it is a short-term guest with a grand entrance: the bells along an arch open one after another, and spent ones drop cleanly or are plucked out. Five to eight days is realistic — respectable for such a filigree build, though it cannot match the marathon runners among summer flowers.
Stylistically the angels fishing rod belongs to the top league of naturalistic floristry: with grasses, scabious and astrantia you get a bouquet that looks like a piece of summer meadow in the wind. In bridal work too it provides that romantic overhang no other flower can quite achieve.
The most common mistake is rough handling: the fine arches snap easily when transported squashed or bound in tightly. Carry it loosely and on top, arrange it airily, and place the vase so the arches can hang free — then this rarity shows what it is made of.
Is Angels Fishing Rod toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
There is hardly any toxicological data on dierama; serious poisonings are not known. As with other iris family plants, chewing on the corm or stems can cause gastrointestinal upset — keep out of reach of pets and small children to be safe.
Typical symptoms: After eating larger amounts: nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, usually mild.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut the stems at an angle and place them in a tall vase with fresh water.
- 02Let the arches hang free — do not wedge anything in and leave space around the vase.
- 03Change the water every two days; the fine stems like it clean.
- 04Carefully pluck out spent bells; the next ones will open in turn.
- 05Keep away from draughts but cool — warmth noticeably shortens the vase life.
- 06Lay it on top during transport and do not squash it; the arches snap easily.
Frequently asked
- Why is dierama called angels fishing rod?
- Because of its silhouette: the bell-shaped blooms hang from hair-fine, elegantly arching stems and sway with every draught — like bait on a fine fishing rod. The English name angels fishing rod describes exactly that image.
- How long does dierama last in the vase?
- About five to eight days. The bells open one after another along the arch; a cool spot, fresh water and plucking out spent blooms extend the pleasure. For such a filigree flower that is a respectable vase life.
- Where can you get dierama as a cut flower?
- Only with difficulty — dierama is a true rarity that appears at the auction only in summer and in small lots. If you want angels fishing rod for a specific date, pre-order it with your florist so it can be bought specifically.
- Which flowers pair well with dierama?
- With everything that radiates movement and meadow: grasses, scabious, astrantia and delicate umbellifers. The key is letting the arches swing freely beyond the bouquet — wedged in, the flower loses all its magic.