Aristea Species, Blue Corn-Lily, Blue-Eyed Iris, Blue Flies, Blue Stars

Aristeaecklonii

Family
Iridaceae (eye-rid-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Aristea (air-ISS-tee-uh)
Species
ecklonii (ek-lon-ee-eye)
Synonym
Aristea lastii
Aristea paniculata
Aristea stipitata
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Dark Blue
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Alameda, California

Arroyo Grande, California

Martinez, California

Sebastopol, California

Walnut Creek, California

Mandeville, Louisiana

Port Norris, New Jersey

Yachats, Oregon

Austin, Texas

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Gardener's Notes:

3
positives
1
neutral
2
negatives
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D
Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) | May 2015 | positive

I like this plant. It has lovely blue flowers and for me it hasn't been invasive as the bloom stalks take quite a while to make seed so ...Read More

B
| August 2013 | negative

This is an incredibly invasive weed that is basically impossible to eradicate. It should be banned from sale and should be listed as weed...Read More

R
(Zone 1) | October 2012 | positive

Aristea ecklonii - one of nature's 'true blue' little beauties. It grows as a fan of pale green leaves, and has lovely blue flowers from ...Read More

D
west Houston, TX (Zone 9a) | January 2007 | positive

This plant plays well with others here in southeast Texas--that is to say, it is not invasive here. But it easy to grow from seed if you want to.

K
(Zone 10a) | March 2003 | negative

I found this growing wild and planted it in my garden, but have come to regret that I did. It self seeds prolifically and I have been try...Read More

J
J
Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) | November 2002 | neutral

Swordlike evergreen leaves in clumps are very similar to agapanthus in appearance, but flowers are not as nice. Winged, flattened flower ...Read More

Featured
Garden Jumping Spider
(Opisthoncus parcedentatus)
Lesser Goldfinch
(Spinus psaltria)
Featured
Garden Jumping Spider
(Opisthoncus parcedentatus)
Lesser Goldfinch
(Spinus psaltria)