The Spring Starflower is a bulbous perennial that grows up to 10" tall. This South American ground cover tolerates drought but should be kept moist during the growing season. In early spring, its bulb produces grass-like foliage and multiple flowering 6" stems with single white to violet-blue star flowers. This plant prefers a sheltered, sunny position with slightly moist soil. Plant blooms in early to mid spring and produces masses of flowers on individual scapes. This plant spreads if left undisturbed. Plant in late fall and bury plants 5 in. to base of the bulb and space 2-4 in. apart, 10-20 bulbs per sq. ft. These are excellent for use in rock gardens, lawns, and woodland gardens. Quick ID Hints: Grass-like leaves have a garlic/onion scent Produces 6-pointed bluish white star flowers in spring. Tepals have a darker central vein on the underside. Has numerous scapes of solitary flowers.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 4 in. | Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are grass like, basal, narrowly linear, somewhat glaucous, garlic scented, bluish-green in color, 10" long and less than an inch wide.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Star; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are star-shaped and solitary, salverform, 1 1/2" in diameter, and white with a blue tinge to violet-blue in color. Flowers have 6 petals that are shortly united, have spreading lobes, and have a dark central vein on each segment.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Argentina and Uruguay
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Naturalized Area; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland