Family: Amaryllidaceae
Common Name: Lily of the Altai

There are four species in this genus of bulbous perennials from western and central Asia which produce lovely sprays of delicately fragrant, lavender blue, star-shaped flowers in late spring or early summer. The stems are rather weak and the sparse, grass-like foliage dies down in the summer. They make attractive, long-lasting cut flowers.

Species

I. tataricum, Tartar lily, the only species cultivated, has long-lasting, blue flowers in spring or early summer.

Cultivation

Plant these bulbs 15 cm (6 in) deep and 10 cm (4 in) apart in autumn, in a warm, sunny border with well-drained soil. Provide an organic mulch to protect the bulbs from excessive rain in winter. Propagate from seed sown in a garden frame when ripe, or from offsets when corms are dormant. Ixiolirions can also be grown in pots in an unheated greenhouse.

Climate

Zone 7.