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(Ferraria crispa)
Starfish Iris (Ferraria crispa)
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Jeremy Gilmore
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Jeremy Gilmore
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Jeremy Gilmore | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Jeremy Gilmore | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-09-29T12:17:50-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Ferraria crispa, commonly known as Starfish Iris, is a deciduous perennial bulb native to the coastal dunes and sandy flats of South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape. It typically grows to a height of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters) and a width of 0.3-0.5 feet (0.09-0.2 meters). The plant is characterized by its unusual and striking flowers, which are star-shaped with wavy, crisped margins, and display a combination of purple, white, and yellow colors. The flowers, which can be quite showy, appear in the summer and fall and emit a unique, sometimes unpleasant fragrance that attracts pollinators such as flies.
Starfish Iris is valued for its exotic and ornamental flowers, which add a unique texture and color to garden displays. It is suitable for rock gardens, borders, and as a container plant. In cultivation, it requires full sun to part shade and medium water, thriving in well-drained soils. It is relatively low maintenance but benefits from being lifted and divided every few years to maintain vigor. While generally pest-free, it can be susceptible to rot if overwatered or planted in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Starfish Iris is valued for its exotic and ornamental flowers, which add a unique texture and color to garden displays. It is suitable for rock gardens, borders, and as a container plant. In cultivation, it requires full sun to part shade and medium water, thriving in well-drained soils. It is relatively low maintenance but benefits from being lifted and divided every few years to maintain vigor. While generally pest-free, it can be susceptible to rot if overwatered or planted in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Height: 1-1.5 feet
- Width: 0.3-0.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Brown, Green, Purple, Yellow
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Coastal dunes and sandy flats of South Africa
Other Names
Common Names: Black-Flag
Scientific Names: , Ferraria crispa, Ferraria crispa subsp. crispa, Ferraria undulata, Ferraria crispa subsp. nortieri, Ferraria ensiformis, Ferraria major, Ferraria obtusifolia, Ferraria punctata, Ferraria vandermerwei
GBIF Accepted Name: Ferraria crispa Burm.