Ipheion uniflorum
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Common Name: spring starflower
Type: Bulb
Family: Alliaceae
Zone: 5 to 9
Native Range: Uruguay, Argentina, Chile
Garden Location: Lang Family Bird Garden
Height: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Spread: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Color: Blue, White, Lavender
Bloom Description: Pale to dark blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Leaves: Fragrant
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Black Walnuts
Uses: Cut Flower, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Wide range of soil tolerance. Plant bulbs 2-3” deep and space 2-4” apart in fall. Naturalizes rapidly by bulb offsets and self-seeding, and is considered to be one of the easiest bulbs to grow. Plants go dormant by late spring.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Native to Argentina and Uruguay, spring starflower features grass-like foliage and solitary star-shaped flowers on 6” tall stems in early spring. Each bulb produces multiple flowering stems. Flowers range in color from almost white to violet blue. Flowers have a mild spicy fragrance, and the foliage when bruised emits an oniony aroma. Synonymous with and formerly known as Triteleia uniflora.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Mass in border fronts or rock gardens, along walks or paths, in semi-wild areas or under trees or in front of shrubs. Also can be naturalized in lawns.

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