From the mild climate of Central and South America, the star flower found its way into our garden and onto the balcony. Given this origin, the question of the winter hardiness of this enchanting spring and summer flower is obvious. Read here what the frost hardiness is like. This is how wintering works.
Are star flowers hardy?
Star flowers are only partially hardy and cannot tolerate frost well. In order to overwinter successfully, the bulbs should be dug up in autumn, dried and stored in a cool place. Starflowers grown in pots also require frost-free overwintering.
Star flower is conditionally hardy
In their natural habitat, starflowers have not learned to withstand freezing temperatures. If the thermometer in the winter garden falls below freezing every year, the tuber cannot survive in the ground. Even in regions with mild winters, the planting site should be piled thick with leaves and brushwood before the cold season so that the onion will sprout again next spring.
Tips for safe wintering
So that the star flower repeats its flowering magic in the bed next summer, we recommend these measures for a he althy winter:
- Stop fertilizing from July and reduce the amount of irrigation water
- In autumn, pull the flower bulbs out of the ground with a digging fork
- Cut off the dead flower stems
- Tamp off the soil or wipe it with a brush, but do not wash it due to the risk of rot
Let the tubers air dry for a few more days. Only then are they put into a cool, dark room. Store the starflower bulbs dry on a wire rack or wrapped in sand at temperatures between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius. It is an advantage if you turn the tubers every now and then to check them for rot and pests.
Also put away in the pot
Cultivated in pots and balcony boxes, star flowers are not protected from frost damage. If there is enough space available, the onions can be put away along with the container. Cut the dead stems down to the ground. The plants overwinter in the dry substrate, frost-free and dark.
Tip
Due to their low frost tolerance, the planting time for starflower bulbs begins in April at the earliest. Place the tubers 5 to 10 cm deep in the well-drained soil in a sunny, warm location. Arranged in small tuffs 5 cm apart, the graceful flowers stand out impressively. Care is limited to regular watering, fertilizing and cleaning out wilted flower heads.
