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Ipheion

This little spring-flowering plant, a native of Peru and Argentina, sends up from among its grassy leaves 6-inch stems, each bearing a flower which is an inch or more across. The blossoms have a mintlike scent, but the leaves, when crushed, smell like onion. Although each stem carries only one flower, a single bulb sends up several stalks over a period of many weeks. The foliage appears in fall and lies on the ground over winter, withering in early summer. The low growth of spring starflowers makes them espcially attractive in rock gardens, at the edge of borders or walks, beneath shrubs, or naturalized in rough grass.      Spring starflowers survive winters outdoors in Zones 6-10 and make fine midwinter-flowering house plants indoors. They will grow in full sun or light shade. Plant the bulbs in late summer or early fall, spacing them 6 inches apart and covering them with 3 inches of soil. No fertilizer is necessary; usually the bulbs multiply so fast they can be dug up at the midsummer planting season every few years and the divisions shared with friends.      Indoors, plants do best in at least four hours of direct sunlight a day, night temperatures of 50 to 65F and day temperatures of 68F or higher. Pot them 1 inch deep in fall in a good potting soil. Keep soil moist until the foliage finally withers in late spring, then keep the bulbs dry until late summer or early fall, when they should be separated and reportted in fresh potting mixture.

Wisley Blue Deep-violet flowers. Excellent for borders and rock gardens.

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Site launched January 1, 2000. Site updated September 1, 2007.

[CyberSalad] [Garden Pursuits] [Garden Quotes] [Garden Journal] [The Language of Flowers] [Monthly Chores] [Garden Poetry] [Zone Maps] [First/Last Frost Dates] [Trees] [Ground Covers] [Fruit/Berries] [Water Garden] [Gardening Links] [Vegetables] [Lawn] [Raised Beds] [Bulbs, etc.] [Shrubs] [Perennials] [Annuals] [Herbs]