What hardiness zones is Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' suitable for?

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue'?

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' requires Full Sun.

How much water does Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' need?

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' has Low water needs.

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' (Wisley Blue Spring Starflower)

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Bulbs

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue'

Wisley Blue Spring Starflower

Amaryllidaceae

Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil (grasslands, open woodlands)

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At a Glance

TypeBulb

HabitClumping

FoliageDeciduous

Height6-8 inches (15-20 cm)

Width4-6 inches (10-15 cm)

Maturity1 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9

Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

What's my zone? →

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Maintenancevery low

Overview

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue' is a small, bulbous perennial reaching 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) tall with a spread of 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) per bulb, forming expanding clumps over time. This cultivar produces solitary, star-shaped, upward-facing flowers 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) across in clear violet-blue—the deepest blue of the commonly grown Ipheion cultivars. Each flower stem bears a single flower (hence 'uniflorum'). The narrow, strap-shaped, pale green leaves are 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) long and appear in autumn, persisting through winter and spring, then dying back in summer. The foliage smells of onion when crushed. Bulbs multiply rapidly by offsets, forming dense colonies. Hardy to zone 5. Dormant in summer.

Native Range

Ipheion uniflorum is native to Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, in grasslands and open woodlands.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rock gardens, borders, under deciduous trees, or naturalized in lawns at 3–4 inch (8–10 cm) spacing in groups of 10–25 bulbs. The rapid bulb multiplication creates expanding blue drifts over years. The autumn-emerging foliage fills winter gaps. Summer dormancy means the space is empty June–September—interplant with summer-active perennials. The foliage smells of onion when crushed. Not suitable for wet, waterlogged soils or heavy shade.

How to Identify

Distinguished from other Ipheion cultivars by the deeper violet-blue flower color (the species type is pale lilac-blue; 'Album' is white; 'Rolf Fiedler' is also blue but lighter). Distinguished from Scilla and Chionodoxa by the solitary flower per stem and the onion-scented foliage. The small spring bulb with solitary violet-blue star-shaped flowers and onion-scented foliage is diagnostic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 8"

Width/Spread4" - 6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring

Solitary, star-shaped, upward-facing flowers 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) across in clear violet-blue, from March through April. Each stem bears one flower. Bloom duration is 4–6 weeks. The flowers have a mild, sweet scent.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Clear violet-blue star-shaped flowers 1-1.5 inches; solitary; upward-facing; deepest blue Ipheion

Foliage Description

Pale green, narrow strap-shaped, 6-8 inches; autumn-emerging; onion-scented when crushed

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun Partial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant bulbs 3 inches (8 cm) deep in autumn in full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained soil. Hardy to zone 5. The bulbs multiply rapidly—expect expanding colonies. Foliage appears in autumn and persists through spring; allow it to die back naturally in summer. Summer-dormant—do not water heavily during dormancy.

Pruning

Allow foliage to yellow and die back naturally after bloom (May–June). Do not cut back green foliage—it feeds the bulbs for next year. Remove only fully yellowed leaves.

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic