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Ipheion spp.
Southern South America (Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil)
Overview
Ipheion spp. is a small genus of bulbous perennials in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to southern South America. The familiar garden species I. uniflorum (spring starflower) and its relatives form low tufts of narrow, grassy, pale green leaves that smell faintly of onion or garlic when bruised, reflecting their place in the onion subfamily. Plants reach only about 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) tall. In late winter and spring, each bulb sends up slender stalks topped with a single upward-facing, star-shaped flower with six pointed tepals, in white, pale to deep blue, or soft pink depending on species and cultivar. The small bulbs multiply freely and naturalise into spreading drifts in suitable conditions. The genus is native to Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, where the plants grow in grassland and open ground with wet winters and dry summers. The foliage appears in autumn and dies away by early summer, leaving a bare gap, and the onion scent of crushed leaves is not to every taste. Some botanists place these species in the related genus Tristagma spp..
Native Range
Ipheion spp. is native to southern South America, chiefly Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. The plants grow in grassland and open, seasonally moist ground, and I. uniflorum has naturalised in mild climates elsewhere.Suggested Uses
Ipheion spp. is used for edging, rock gardens, the front of borders, and naturalising in short grass or under deciduous shrubs. The bulbs suit containers and pots that can be kept dry in summer. Massed plantings create spring drifts of star-shaped flowers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 8"
Width/Spread3" - 6"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in late winter and spring, roughly February to April in the Northern Hemisphere, with each bulb producing a succession of single star-shaped flowers over several weeks. Flower colour ranges from white through pale and deep blue to soft pink. The flowers draw early bees and other pollinators on warm days.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, blue, or pinkFoliage Description
pale greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Ipheion spp. grows in full sun to light shade in light, well-drained soils and tolerates poor and sandy ground. The bulbs are hardy in roughly USDA zones 5 to 9, where they multiply and naturalise into drifts over a few seasons. Leaves emerge in autumn, flower in spring, and die back by early summer, after which the bulbs rest dry. Plants need little water during summer dormancy and may rot in soils that stay wet through the resting period. Propagation is by separating offset bulbs after the foliage dies down or by seed.Pruning
No pruning is needed beyond letting the foliage die down naturally after flowering so the bulbs can build reserves. Spent flower stalks can be removed for tidiness. Crowded clumps can be lifted and divided once the leaves have withered.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons