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skill rating
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Ferraria crispa (Starfish lily )
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.5m
Max height
Max height
0.15m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Ferraria crispa
Other names
Starfish lily , Black flag, Sea spider iris, Ferraria undulata, Ferraria obtusifolia, Curled ferraria, Krullefjie
Genus
Ferraria Ferraria
Species
F. crispa - F. crispa is a tender, clump-forming, cormous perennial with fleshy, stem-clasping, overlapping, linear to lance-shaped, grey-green leaves and, in spring, fragrant, pale yellow, yellow-brown, or brown flowers with densely crinkled petal margins and heavily spotted, purple, yellow, and brown.
Ferraria crispa is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
Flower
Spotted, Dark-purple, Brown, Yellow in Spring
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Winter
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Remove leaves only after they have completely died down.
Propagation
Sow seed at 6-12C in summer or autumn. Separate offsets when dormant.
Propagation methods
Offsets, Seed
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Where to grow
Ferraria crispa (Starfish lily ) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.15m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Greenhouse, Rock, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, plant in autumn, 15cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Keep dry in summer. Under glass, grow in a deep containers of loam-based compost with added grit. When in growth in winter, feed monthly and water moderately. Keep dry in winter.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Ferraria crispa
Other names
Starfish lily , Black flag, Sea spider iris, Ferraria undulata, Ferraria obtusifolia, Curled ferraria, Krullefjie
Genus
Ferraria Ferraria
Species
F. crispa - F. crispa is a tender, clump-forming, cormous perennial with fleshy, stem-clasping, overlapping, linear to lance-shaped, grey-green leaves and, in spring, fragrant, pale yellow, yellow-brown, or brown flowers with densely crinkled petal margins and heavily spotted, purple, yellow, and brown.
Native to
South Africa
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming
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Colour
Flower
Spotted, Dark-purple, Brown, Yellow in Spring
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Winter
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Remove leaves only after they have completely died down.
Propagation
Sow seed at 6-12C in summer or autumn. Separate offsets when dormant.
Propagation methods
Offsets, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Ferraria crispa (Starfish lily ) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.15m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Conservatory, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Greenhouse, Rock, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
In frost-free areas, plant in autumn, 15cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Keep dry in summer. Under glass, grow in a deep containers of loam-based compost with added grit. When in growth in winter, feed monthly and water moderately. Keep dry in winter.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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