Pink Star Plant

Pink Star Plant (Rhodohypoxis baurii 'Beverly') is a tiny corm forming perennial from the Drakensberg mountains that covers itself in flat, six pointed pink stars through spring and summer. It sits at about 15cm high and 15cm across, forming a neat tuft of grassy leaves under the flowers. Planted 15cm apart it makes a solid mat of colour in a trough, a rockery pocket or a path edge where a larger plant would be lost.

Why you'll love it

• Months of flower from a small plant. Blooms open in succession from spring into summer rather than in one short burst.
• Scale for small spaces. At 15cm each way it fits a windowbox, a trough or a gap between pavers.
• Frost hardy. It comes from high altitude grassland, so cold southern winters do not trouble the dormant corms.
• Happy with moisture. Unlike most alpines it accepts damp soil while in growth, which makes it easy in a watered bed or pot.

Where it works best

Rockeries and gravel pockets. Tuck groups of five or more into crevices where the drainage is sharp and the flowers sit against stone.

Pots and troughs. A shallow bowl of a single variety is the classic way to grow it, and a pot lets you move it out of the rain once it goes dormant.

Edging and mass planting. Plant 15cm apart along a path edge or through the front of a small bed for a continuous carpet of pink.

Growing Pink Star Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to very light shade. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and mediterranean gardens, including cold districts, and is best avoided in humid subtropical and tropical areas where the corms rot in a wet summer.

Soil. A gritty, free draining mix with some organic matter is ideal. In pots, use a quality potting mix with about a third coarse sand or fine gravel added. In the ground, raise the bed if your soil holds water in winter.

Water and feed. Keep it consistently moist from the first shoots in spring until flowering ends, then reduce watering sharply as the leaves yellow and keep it dry through winter dormancy. A weak liquid feed every few weeks during growth is plenty.

Division. Lift and divide congested clumps every three or four years as growth restarts in spring.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in tube stock, which is the standard way this plant is sold. You are buying a small, actively growing tuft rather than a flowering display, so order several and plant them as a group. Tubes travel well because there is little top growth to damage.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Pot them up or plant them out promptly, and expect the first flowers in the growing season after planting once the corms have built up. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants for rockeries and gravel gardens
• Compact plants suited to pots and troughs
• Low growing ideas for garden borders
• Browse plants for small gardens

Common questions

Why has my plant disappeared over winter?

It is dormant, not dead. The leaves die back completely each cool season and the corms rest underground, so mark the spot and keep the soil on the dry side until shoots appear in spring.

Can I grow it in a humid subtropical garden?

It is difficult. Wet summer heat is the one condition it does not handle, and the corms are prone to rot. If you want to try, grow it in a pot of gritty mix under cover so you control the water.

How many should I plant together?

Groups of five to ten read far better than single plants. At 15cm spacing, ten plants fill roughly a quarter of a square metre.