Family: Hypoxidaceae
Common Name: Star Grass

Mostly native to South Africa, but also found in North and South America, Australia and Southeast Asia, these cormous perennials are grown on rock gardens in warns climates, or in a cool greenhouse in frost-prone areas. They have long, slender leaves and in spring and summer produce small, star-shaped yellow or white flowers.

Species

H. hirsuta, from North America, to 20 cm (8 in), has leaves the same length, and yellow flowers in late spring.

H. hygrometrica, golden weather grass, is an Australian species which grows to only 15 cm (6 in). It has long, narrow leaves and the small, yellow flowers tend to close in cloudy weather.

H. stellarta, from South Africa, has yellow or pure white flowers, with greenish stripes and a distinctive, purplish black centre, and long, smooth leaves. It grows to about 25 cm (10 in). Var. eleguns produces white flowers banded with dark blue to purple stripes.

Cultivation

Plant bulbs, smooth side down-wards, in a well-drained soil, enriched with compost or manure. in autumn. They need a sunny position and protection from excessive winter rain and frosts. When grown in pots in a green-house use a soil-based potting compost enriched with leaf mould and grit. Ensure good light. Do not water in winter when the corms are dormant. Propagate from offsets when dor­mant, or from seed in spring.

Climate

Zone 9.