Ipheion
( if - EY - on )
|
At-A-Glance InformationAlso known as Brodiaea uniflora and commonly called Spring Star Flower or simply Starflower, this perennial grows from bulb and requires full sun or partial shade. These Argentinian natives require regular waterings during their growing and blooming periods. Flowers are commonly white tinged with blue, but varieties are available in varying shades of blue as well as pink, violet and white. Leaves and flowers smell faintly of onion when bruised or crushed. They are great for borders, woodland plantings, and as interest among low-growing grasses. These flowers grow best in zones 2b-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
|
Caring for ipheion
These plants grow well in full sun to partial shade; ideally, they should get around 6 hours of sun each day, but appreciate some afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates. They can be planted as bulbs or seeds can be sown directly into garden soil. Make sure they are given enough space to spread; they will form colonies, naturalizing large areas of land. Plant bulbs 2 inches deep and 2 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. They prefer soil to be well-draining, with moderate fertility and a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Clay soils should be broken up to about a foot down if they are compacted. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention.
Water newly planted Spring Starflowers regularly to help them develop strong root systems. These flowers prefer dry summer conditions while it is in dormancy, though if drainage is very good they will not be disturbed by a little water. During the active growing and flowering seasons, water when the top two inches of soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is not necessary for these flowers; they will die back naturally in summertime, at which point the browned, dried leaves can be removed if desired. When growing Ipheion in large patches, it is typically impractical to remove leaves from all plants. They can be left on the plant and will be shed naturally. Ipheion can live undisturbed for years, even in containers, and need dividing infrequently.
Water newly planted Spring Starflowers regularly to help them develop strong root systems. These flowers prefer dry summer conditions while it is in dormancy, though if drainage is very good they will not be disturbed by a little water. During the active growing and flowering seasons, water when the top two inches of soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is not necessary for these flowers; they will die back naturally in summertime, at which point the browned, dried leaves can be removed if desired. When growing Ipheion in large patches, it is typically impractical to remove leaves from all plants. They can be left on the plant and will be shed naturally. Ipheion can live undisturbed for years, even in containers, and need dividing infrequently.
Propagation
Ipheion, or Spring Starflower, can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Spring Starflowers, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Ipheion by Seed
Propagating Ipheion by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Ipheion by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Ipheion by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the bulb(s). Once you have worked them up out of the ground, lay them out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one bulb attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your bulbs and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Ipheion bulbs.
|
Ipheion seeds are small, black, and rough.
|
Problems and Pests
Ipheion plants have few pest and disease issues, but can be affected from time to time by:
- Slugs and Snails
Gallery
These plants can be used as a low-traffic lawn substitute.
|
Ipheion plants grow well under trees.
|
These ornamentals can be grown in the ground or in containers.
|
Videos
|
A look at Ipheion plants.
|
Check out this species, also called Garlic of the Inca.
|
Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 375, Ipheion uniflorum
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
