The star flower is hard to miss with its pretty flowers. It can be cultivated in a bucket or bed and can withstand winter temperatures.
The star flower (Ipheion uniflorum) cuts a fine figure in beds and pots. Compared to daffodils or crocuses, this distinctive early bloomer is still a relatively rare guest in your home garden. The star flower is easy to cultivate and combines wonderfully with other early bloomers. In the following you can read how the delicate spring star can be planted and cared for and how you can make it appear advantageously in a spring bed or in a bucket.
Origin of the Starflower
The original home of the plant is in the temperate climate zones of Argentina and Uruguay. Rich deposits can be found in the grassy steppes of the Andes. Larger stocks are now also represented in the south of Great Britain and in France. The star flower was cultivated in the gardens here and has become natural over time.
Is the star flower poisonous?
The star flower has recently been offered more frequently as "Andean garlic". The similarly tasty flowers and leaves are said to serve as a substitute for garlic. This proposal should be treated with caution. The star flower contains ecdysterone. This steroid is considered mildly toxic. It also contains various saponins, which can also lead to headaches, nausea and other mild symptoms of poisoning.
Plant star flower
Suitable location for the star flower
The star flower makes no great demands on the location. The plants thrive in sun and partial shade. The robust mountain plants cannot stand the blazing midday sun alone. A place in the morning and evening sun corresponds to the natural growth conditions.
The star flower is particularly effective in combination with the following early bloomers:
- crocuses
- Hyacinths
- Tulips
- Irises
Various colorful varieties can be used:
| Type | Flower Color |
|---|---|
| Album | white |
| pink | |
| Froyle Mill | violet |
| Lilacinum | pastel purple |
| Whiskey Blue | blue |
| Rolf Fiedler | blue |
| Jessie | purple blue |
If the location is too shady, the star flower will miss its flowers. A good compromise has been found when the star flower is used as an underplant for light shrubs or the bulbs are distributed in the lawn.
Ideal substrate for the star flower
The ideal soil should be neither too wet nor too dry. Sand can be mixed in to improve the permeability of dense clay soil. If the soil is loose and rich in nutrients, the star flower will form numerous flowers.
Tip: Potted plants thrive very well in cactus soil mixed with clay granules.
Planting a star flower - step by step
1. Choose a stand
2. Prepare the ground
3. Dig the planting holes
4. Observe the planting distance
5. Plant the bulbs
6. Improve the soil7. Fill up the substrate
8. Press the substrate
9. Water the planting site
The star flower is sensitive to frosty temperatures. Therefore, wait until the end of April before planting. The planting holes are dug ten centimeters deep. A piece of wood can be helpful for this. The planting distance should be between six and ten centimeters.
Tip: To achieve a dense carpet of flowers, plant up to 100 bulbs per square meter.
An overview of the most important planting tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • sunny to semi-shady • warm • sheltered |
| Prepare substrate | • permeable • loose • nutrient-rich |
| planting | • Planting depth: 10 cm • Planting distance: 6 to 10 cm • Enrich substrate with compost |
Care for Star Flower
Water the star flower correctly
The star flower is watered moderately after planting. Waterlogging must not occur. Only water during flowering and when there is a prolonged dry spell.
Tip: When the plant has finished flowering, it will retract its leaves and no longer need to be watered.
Fertilize star flower
If the substrate is upgraded with mature compost during planting, there is nonefurther fertilization necessary. In a nutrient-poor substrate, the plants receive liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 14 days during flowering.
Cutting star flower
It is not necessary to cut back. Withered flowers are regularly removed. After flowering, the leaves are notcut off, because the tuber gets its nutrients from it for the coming flowering period. Fading will only be removed when it has completely yellowed and dried up.
Propagate Starflower
If the location is right, no one has to worry about the propagation of the star flower and no additional measures need to be taken. The spring star reproduces itself and dense carpets form over time. A prerequisite for this is that the plant can store the necessary energy. If the bulbs are cultivated in the lawn, for example, this is not the case because the stalks and leaves are removed too early by the lawn clippings.
Winter star flower
The mountain plants are used to harsh winters and can remain in the ground during the cold season. Temperatures down to -25 degrees are tolerated. The leaves appear as early as autumn. These should be given a light frost protection before winter and covered with leaves.