Pauridia vaginata
yellow star
Overview
Pauridia vaginata, formerly placed in Hypoxis spp., is a small cormous perennial of the family Hypoxidaceae, reaching 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) tall in flower. The narrow, grass-like leaves rise from the base, measure 2–6 inches (5–15 cm) long and about 0.1 inch (2–3 mm) wide, and are channelled with scattered hairs. Flowers are star-shaped with six yellow tepals, 0.4–0.8 inch (10–20 mm) across, borne singly or in small clusters on slender stalks. The outer surface of the tepals is often green-tinged. Flowering occurs in late winter and spring (August–November in its native range). After flowering the plant dies back to the corm and stays dormant through the dry summer. P. vaginata grows in seasonally moist grassland, open woodland, and heath across southern Australia on sandy to loamy soils. It depends on a winter-wet, summer-dry cycle and declines where soils stay waterlogged or are heavily fertilised. The small size and short above-ground season limit its presence outside the flowering period.
Native Range
Native to southern Australia, in seasonally moist grassland, open woodland, and heath of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and south-western Western Australia.Suggested Uses
Used in native grassland plantings, rockeries, and seasonally dry borders. Suited to containers and raised beds where the corm can be kept dry in summer. Spaced 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) apart in clumps.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 8"
Width/Spread2" - 4"
Bloom Information
Flowers open in late winter and spring, from August to November in the native range. The yellow six-tepalled flowers are 0.4–0.8 inch (10–20 mm) across and open in sunshine. Each corm produces a succession of flowers over several weeks before summer dormancy.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow, green-tinged on the reverseFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Grow Pauridia vaginata in full sun to light shade in free-draining sandy or loamy soil. It needs moisture through autumn, winter, and spring and a dry rest once the foliage withers in summer. Summer irrigation can rot the dormant corm. Plants establish slowly from seed, taking two to three years to reach flowering size, and increase gradually by cormlets. In cultivation it suits raised beds, rockeries, and pots that can be kept dry over summer. Heavy, waterlogged soils shorten its life.Pruning
No pruning is required. Spent flower stalks and withered leaves can be removed once the plant enters summer dormancy. The corm regenerates foliage the following autumn.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons