Perhaps because of the complicated name of sisyrinchium do not recognize these types of plants. But, if at any time you have come across any of its varieties in flower, these have surely caught your attention and you have not been able to forget them.
Without a doubt, it is one of those small “jewels” of nature that remain unknown to many people. But they dazzle those who are lucky enough to know about them.
What are starflowers?
The sisyrinchium is considered a stellar flower. This is not a botanical category as such but rather a poetic description used to highlight the particular beauty and shape of certain flowers.
As its name indicates, you can imagine that this name includes flowers that remind us of the stars. And, in the case of sisyrinchium, many of the species that are part of this family they produce original ones star-shaped flowers.
Origin and natural habitat of sisyrinchium
Although today we can find varieties of this plant in many places around the world, It is originally from America, where it has spread naturally from North America to South America.
In its natural habitat it usually grows in open, sunny places. In fact, It is a plant that can be commonly found in prairies and pasture areas. However, some of its varieties have adapted to a more humid habitat and can be found near bodies of water such as streams and rivers.
Physical characteristics of sisyrinchium
If you have seen a plant and think it may be the one we are talking about, pay attention to the following physical features to identify it:
- Leaves. This is a herbaceous perennial plant whose leaves are narrow and linear, and usually grow in a basal rosette shape. Depending on the variety of sisyrinchium we are dealing with, the color of the leaves can range from green to gray, and even have a bluish tone.
- Flowers. The flowers are grouped in the form of clusters or panicles. They are small and stand out for their recognizable star shape. As for colors, you can find them in white, yellow, purple and even blue. This is one of the few plant varieties capable of generating blue flowers naturally. Another notable aspect of its flowers is that they are very short-lived, and tend to open and close in response to sunlight. If you see such a plant having flowers on a cloudy day, the petals are most likely folded in on themselves.
- Door. Although it can vary greatly, most sisyrinchium varieties are medium to short in size.
As a curious fact, this plant is known as “blue iris”. Due to its belonging to the Iridaceae family, some species of sisyrinchium can resemble irises both in its leaves and in its flowers. Hence, in some cases they can become confused.
What care does sisyrinchium need?
If you are thinking of adding varieties of this plant to your garden, You will be happy to know that they all have in common that they are very easy to care for. If you apply the general guidelines that we are going to see below, you will ensure that they grow strong and that the outdoor space of your house is filled with the beauty of their flowers:
Light conditions
With the sisyrinchium all natural light is little, because it loves it. Can receive direct sunlight and, in fact, it will not grow at all well if it does not receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day.
Although it can tolerate some partial shade, If you have the possibility of planting it in a place where it receives a lot of light, It will be better for her.
Soil characteristics
This is a plant that prefers substrates with good drainage capacity, because then it will not have problems with water accumulation in its roots. Regarding pH, You will notice that it grows faster and stronger if it is slightly acidic.
Watering the sisyrinchium
It is a species that requires regular but moderate watering. That is We are going to let the soil dry out a little between watering. and, when we add water, we will do so uniformly.
As we always recommend, do not flood the plant when you water it. Excess water is not good for you, and the only thing you will achieve is that its roots will rot.
Plant fertilization
It benefits from an extra dose of nutrients during the growing season, which occurs between spring and summer.
The best thing in these cases is to provide a balanced fertilizer, always following the product manufacturer's instructions. AND avoiding, as far as possible, over-fertilization, because this can cause damage to the plant.
Pruning and reproduction of sisyrinchium
This is not a plant that needs extensive pruning, but you can remove dead and damaged leaves as well as withered flowers. This way you make it look better., while stimulating continuous flowering and greater foliage density.
In order to rejuvenate the plant, you can divide it every few years. Dig around the mother plant and remove some stems that you can plant somewhere else. Another way to get more units of this plant is through its seeds, but this implies a much slower growth process.
winter protection
It is not a particularly cold-resistant plant, although some of its varieties are more sensitive to low temperatures than others. In any case, It is advisable that you apply some protection for the winter, adding a generous layer of mulch around the stems to protect their roots.
If you live in an area where frost is common, You should consider covering it during winter nights.
The sisyrinchium is very easy to care for. With a little attention we can make it display all its beauty in our garden. Did you already know him?