Starlikes Ipheion uniflorum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Brodiaea uniflora
- Milla uniflora
- Tristagma uniflorum
- Triteleia uniflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- if-EY-on yoo-nih-FLOR-um
- Description
-
The Spring starflower is a bulbous perennial in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) native to Argentina and Uruguay. The specific epithet means one flower.
Spring starflower prefers a sheltered, sunny position in average, well-drained, slightly moist garden soil. During summer dormancy, the soil can be drier. They will readily spread by bulb offsets and seeds. Plant bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart in the fall.
In early to mid spring, spring starflower produces masses of individual nearly white to violet-blue star-shaped flowers on 6-inch scapes. The foliage is grass-like and has an onion-type aroma when crushed.
Use this plant in borders, rock gardens, along walkways, around shrubs or naturalized areas.
Quick ID Hints:
- Grass-like leaves have a garlic/onion scent
- Produces 6-pointed bluish white star flowers in spring.
- Tepals have a darker central vein on the underside.
- Has numerous scapes of solitary flowers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Four-Season Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alberto Castillo'
White flowers - 'Froyle Mill'
Deep violet-blue flowers - 'Jesse'
Dark blue petals - 'Rolf Fiedler'
iolet-blue petals with a whitish center.
- 'Alberto Castillo'
- 'Alberto Castillo', 'Froyle Mill', 'Jesse', 'Rolf Fiedler'
- Tags:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alberto Castillo'
White flowers - 'Froyle Mill'
Deep violet-blue flowers - 'Jesse'
Dark blue petals - 'Rolf Fiedler'
iolet-blue petals with a whitish center.
- 'Alberto Castillo'
- 'Alberto Castillo', 'Froyle Mill', 'Jesse', 'Rolf Fiedler'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ipheion
- Species:
- uniflorum
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Argentina and Uruguay
- Wildlife Value:
- Early bees are attracted to the flowers
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Three-chambered capsule that splits to release small seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are star-shaped and solitary, salverform, 1 1/2" in diameter, and white with a blue tinge to violet-blue in color. Flowers have 6 petals that are shortly united, have spreading lobes, and have a dark central vein on each segment.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are grass like, basal, narrowly linear, somewhat glaucous, garlic scented, bluish-green in color, 10" long and less than an inch wide.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender green leafless stems that bear a single flower.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
