Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue'
Wisley blue spring starflower
Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil (grasslands, open woodlands)
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 spp. 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
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 8"
Width/Spread4" - 6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
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 IpheionFoliage Description
Pale green, narrow strap-shaped, 6-8 inches; autumn-emerging; onion-scented when crushedGrowing 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
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.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons