Ipheion uniflorum Alberto Castillo

Ipheion uniflorum Alberto Castillo is a beautiful white-flowered selection of a small bulbous plant also known as the Spring Starflower.

The flowers are small and star-shaped, giving off a sweet, honey-like fragrance, appearing anywhere from February to May – among the first flowers to break the long grey winter days.

They appear for only a few weeks in early spring, rising above a dense tuft of fine leaves.

The tuft can form a rather dense carpet over the years – eliminating weeds and bringing greenery to your winter garden.

The foliage is evergreen in the winter – as a true member of the garlic and onion family, the foliage will disappear in the summer as the plant enters its period of dormancy to escape the summer droughts.

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾

• • Full sun to light shade.
  • Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
  • Water moderately; requires dry conditions during its dormant summer period.
  • Very hardy in well-drained soil, this plant thrives with hot, dry summers and multiplies rapidly by producing numerous small bulbs.
  • Divide clumps every few years to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.
  • The plant’s upright, clumping habit makes it suitable for borders, containers, and herb gardens, while its flowers provide a decorative element for late-summer beds.
  • The flowers are excellent for small bouquets, and should be picked as soon as they open for the best effect.
  • Looks great with Stipa tenuifolia, Carex buchananii, Festuca glauca

Learn more about gardening with Ipheion:

• • ENG: Gardening with Ipheion uniflorum Albero Castillo

The Tales & The Botany: Ipheion uniflorum Alberto Castillo

Originally hailing from the mountains of Argentina and Uruguay, it was subsequently naturalized in Great Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ipheion is a short, honey-scented, clumping collection of sparkling six-pointed stars in early to mid-spring.

The crushed leaves of Ipheion uniflorum Alberto Castillo emit a subtle garlic-like aroma.

This cultivar is a horticultural selection derived from a species native to the grasslands and rocky areas of Argentina.

The species itself has pale blue flowers and goes by another name – Triteleia uniflora.

The plant makes an excellent low-maintenance ground cover, although it can be vigorous under ideal conditions.

Floral Morphology

The flowering season extends from February to May, depending on the climate.

The star-shaped flowers are 2–3 cm wide, pure white with yellow stamens, and emit a delicate, honey-like fragrance.

The flowers typically appear in the second or third year after planting.

The foliage yellows and disappears completely after flowering.

The plant reaches a height of 15–20 cm, forming low, dense clumps.

Ecology

Ipheion uniflorum Alberto Castillo belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, the same family as garlic and onions, which is reflected in the mild garlicky scent of its foliage when crushed.

The plant propagates effectively through bulb division, which preserves the characteristics of the cultivar, and also by seed, although seedlings may vary in size and color.

The bulbs multiply quickly through offsets, forming an increasingly dense clump over time.

Other Names

Spring Starflower

Origin

South America