Ferraria crispa - The "Starfish Iris" (Spider Iris)

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Ferraria crispa - Starfish Iris

Groovy! The bizarre Ferraria crispa - the "Starfish Iris" - looks like it crawled out of the sea! This rare Iris relative from South Africa has beautifully intricate blooms with frilly edges, like a psychedelic throw-pillow from the 1960s. As an added bonus, the blooms have a wonderful sweet scent! Despite its exotic look, it happens to be easy to grow. Flowering-size bulbs are rarely seen for sale.

Ferraria crispa - Starfish Iris

Ferraria crispa is a winter-growing bulb that flowers in spring, then goes dormant for the summer. Its attractive leaves emerge from small corms in autumn. The leaves grow about a foot tall and have a thick, fleshy texture. In late winter or early spring, the 1½ inch flowers appear. These fascinating, ruffled blooms have deep-purple spots across white petals, and are highlighted with bright orange anthers. Some Ferraria species have an unpleasant scent, but this one has a deliciously sweet aroma that reminds me of vanilla! The plants multiply readily by making many corms, which you may separate. Each corm produces 2 or 3 flower stems.

The Starfish Iris does best in mild, frost-free temperatures during its winter growing period. I recommend keeping it between 35 and 75 degrees F (2-24 C) from October through April in the Northern hemisphere (April to October in the Southern hemisphere). It can handle warmer temperatures if nights are cool. It probably can handle an occasional, light frost, but i recommend protecting it from freezing temperatures. The corms grow well in a small container in sandy soil. A good soil mix is 1 part potting soil to 2 parts sand. Keep the soil moist during the growing season, and give occasional, light feedings. Full sun is best throughout winter. During the summer dormant period, the corms should be kept dry.

Ferraria crispa - Spider Iris

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