Ipheion uniflorum Alberto Castillo

Ipheion uniflorum 'Alberto Castillo' is a beautiful selection of a small bulb with white flowers, called the Spring Star. Its small star-shaped flowers exude a sweet, honey-like scent. They appear for several weeks in spring, above a very dense clump of fine leaves that spread like a carpet over the years. Its foliage emerges in autumn, persists in winter, and goes dormant in summer, allowing it to escape the summer drought.

Ipheion uniflorum 'Alberto Castillo' is a horticultural selection. The species with pale blue flowers, also known as Triteleia uniflora, is a small bulb native to South America (specifically the meadows and rocky areas of Argentina). It is classified in the amaryllidaceae family, like garlic and onion, among others, a relationship revealed by the smell of its foliage when crushed.

The cultivar 'Alberto Castillo' is a particularly floriferous variety, with pure white flowers. In early autumn, the plant develops a clump of linear, light green leaves, 15 to 20 cm tall. The foliage turns yellow and completely disappears after flowering. Flowering occurs from February-March to May, depending on the climate. In late winter, solitary, honey-scented, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, white flowers with yellow stamens emerge. They face upwards and take the form of stars, composed of 6 narrow petals. In cold climates, its long flowering period begins at the same time as the first crocuses, reaching its peak in March and April, and ending in May with the arrival of summer heat. This plant is very hardy in well-drained soil and requires dry and hot summers. It multiplies very rapidly by producing numerous bulblets.

Ipheion uniflorum 'Alberto Castillo' pairs well with varieties with blue or pink flowers (Charlotte Bishop), Ccrocus 'Firefly', Muscari armeniacum, or Zephiranthes candida, other small bulb that are just as easy to grow. It can also be planted under deciduous bushes. It spreads in borders, rocky areas, at the front of flower beds, along well-exposed walls, or even in pots. Pick the flowers as soon as they open if you want to make mini bouquets. Ipheion is also an excellent ground cover, sometimes even invasive.