Considered one of the easiest spring bulbs to grow, the low-growing spring starflower is decorated with pretty, spicy-scented star-shaped flowers in white, purple, or pinkish-blue. The flowers have a spicy scent and the grass-like foliage gives off an onion or garlic scent when crushed. The small bulbs produce multiple flowering stems with single flowers.
The plants will go dormant in late spring. Their foliage will die back, and the plant will essentially disappear underground. But spring starflower naturalizes rapidly by bulb offsets and self-seeding and you can be sure to have more of those early spring bloomers around next spring, and for years to come.
Spring Starflower Overview
Where to Plant Spring Starflower
Plant spring starflower in a location where it gets full sun to partial shade in the early spring during its growing season, It does not have any specific soil or pH requirements but thrives when the soil is moist during the growing season.
Spring flowers are an excellent choice for mass plantings in rock gardens, woodland gardens, along walks or paths, under trees, or surrounding shrubs. Its grass-like foliage makes it a pretty complement in a lawn or meadow where naturalizing habits are often encouraged.
With their star-shaped flowers, spring starflowers are a perfect partner for daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs.
How and When to Plant Spring Starflower
Like all spring bulbs, sprig starflower is planted in the late fall after the soil has cooled down to 55 degrees F but before the ground freezes. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and space them 2 to 4 inches apart. To plant en masse, dig a shallow circle about 2- to 3-feet wide or larger. Scatter bulbs around the circle and cover with soil.
Spring Starflower Care Tips
Like most spring bulbs, spring starflower requires minimal care.
Light
Both full sun and part shade are suitable for spring starflower.
Soil and Water
Spring starflower tolerates a wide range of soils and does well in average, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.1 and 7.8.
Soil that is slightly moist during the growing season is best. Later in the season when the bulbs are dormant, they tolerate some drought.
Temperature and Humidity
Spring starflowers survive winters in Zone 5 and tolerate summers up to Zone 9. High humidity during the summer is usually not a problem, as they are fully dormant by then.
Fertilizer
In rich, fertile soil, the bulbs won't need much fertilizer to prosper but if foliar growth or bloom seems to be sluggish, apply a granular, slow-release 4-10-6 fertilizer to established bulbs three times a year: in the fall (never to newly planted bulbs), in the spring just when they peek through the soil's surface, and again in late spring or early summer when the flowers start to die back.
Pruning
There is no need to prune spring starflowers. Let the foliage die back naturally after the bloom; it usually disintegrates by the time summer comes around. If you have planted spring starflower in a lawn, delay the mowing until the foliage has fully died back to allow the bulbs to naturalize.
Potting and Repotting Spring Starflower
Like most spring bulbs, spring starflowers are not a good choice for growing in pots long-term. Although the bulbs are winter-hardy to Zone 5, in pots, the bulbs are exposed to the cold without sufficient insulation. Even at the upper end of their zone range where winters are milder, the bulbs are subject to undue temperature fluctuations as well as freeze-and-thaw cycles. In the summer, extreme heat builds up in the pots which is also detrimental to the bulbs during their dormancy.
Pests and Problems
Spring starflower is not affected by any serious insect or disease problems.
How to Propagate Spring Starflower
Spring starflower is easily propagated by division. In the spring, mark the location of the bulbs because they will be difficult to locate at planting time in the fall.
Dig up the offset bulbs with a shovel or trowel, taking care not to damage them. Separate them into individual bulbs and discard any that are bruised, shriveled, or diseased. Replant the bulbs in a new location, 2 to 3 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart.
Types of Spring Starflower
'Wisley Blue'
A long-time favorite of gardeners since the mid-1800s, this variety has deep violet-blue, shimmering flowers.
'Charlotte Bishop'
'Charlotte Bishop' started as a chance seedling of 'Wisley Blue'. The flower color varies from light pink to dark pink with a darker line in the center line of the petal.
'Alberto Castillo'
The variety with the largest flowers, "Alberto Castillo' has snow-white fragrant flowers.
Spring Starflower Companion Plants
Yellow Daffodil
Yellow daffodils such as Jonquil daffodils are especially striking when paired with violet-blue spring starflowers. To keep the daffodil show running in your garden, select bulbs from all three blooming times: early, midseason, and late-blooming. These sturdy plants bounce back after snowfalls and some varieties also thrive in a hot climate. Zone 3-9
Grape Hyacinth
Just like star flowers, grape hyacinths spread easily in any average garden soil. They paint the spring landscape in stunning shades of blue, purple, white, or yellow. The flower spikes of grape hyacinths are especially striking paired with the star-shaped spring starflower. Zone 4-8
Anemone Bulbs
Bulb-type anemones are spring bloomers with thin, silky petals that quickly disperse in a breeze after flowering. Their colors range from crisp white to sky blue and pinkish purple. Anemone bulbs bloom most profusely in full sun but tolerate part shade well. Zone 5-8
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is spring starflower invasive?Spring starflower spreads by self-seeding and bulb offsets but even though this naturalization occurs rapidly and the plant is not native to North America (it hails from South America), spring starflower is not considered invasive.
Spring starflower spreads by self-seeding and bulb offsets but even though this naturalization occurs rapidly and the plant is not native to North America (it hails from South America), spring starflower is not considered invasive.
- Can you eat spring starflower?No, spring starflower is not edible. The plant does belong to the same plant family (Amaryllidaceae) as onions, garlic, leeks, etc., which is why their leaves give off an onion-like or garlic-like smell when crushed. The aroma is deceiving, however; the plants are purely ornamental.
No, spring starflower is not edible. The plant does belong to the same plant family (Amaryllidaceae) as onions, garlic, leeks, etc., which is why their leaves give off an onion-like or garlic-like smell when crushed. The aroma is deceiving, however; the plants are purely ornamental.