Spring starflower
Ipheion uniflorum
Also called Ipheion, Tristagma and Starflower
Garden plant · BulbsTHE LEAVES SMELL OF ONION WHEN CRUSHED and the flowers of honey, which is a strange combination and the quickest way to be sure of one. It comes up in autumn, sits through winter as untidy grass, and flowers in March.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 6 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 0.15 m tall · 0.1 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Argentina and Uruguay
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.