Ixiolirion karateginum

Family Amaryllidaceae. Stems up to 10 cm tall. Leaves narrow-linear. Flowers pale lilac, 2-7 in an umbel-like inflorescence. Blooms in July.

Location: light-loving. Prefer a warm, sunny position. Will tolerate slight, intermittent shading.

Soil: modern specialized literature notes the Ixiolirion's need for rich, well-drained soils and plenty of sun. In reality the plant primarily requires dryness during the dormancy period. Under that condition even rather poor loams will suit it. However it does not tolerate acidic soils. Flooding during wintering and in spring can be fatal for the plant.

Care: the same as for scillas and crocuses. Transplanting is necessary every 5-6 years.

Propagation: vegetatively; during the summer each plant produces up to 10 daughter tuberous bulbs. Planting is done in August-September at a depth of 6 to 12 cm depending on the size of the tuberous bulb. Bulbs store poorly. Some specialists recommend keeping them in peat until spring and planting very early, but this seems impractical and unnecessary. With seed propagation, seedlings flower in the third year. Tuberous bulbs grown from seed are better adapted to local conditions. Seeds are sown from April to July in open ground. The optimal temperature for germination is 15°C. Shoots appear 12-14 days after sowing. Sometimes, as in its native habitat, the plant self-seeds.

Use: The plant looks excellent on sunny rock gardens, screes, ridges, and in retaining walls. It is ideal for "steppe" areas and for decorating south-facing slopes in combinations with grasses, Eremurus, perennial flax, carnations, brooms and broom-like shrubs. It also looks good in pots and hanging baskets. To achieve the best decorative effect it is planted in small clumps of 10-15 bulbs.

Companions: pairs well with daffodils, tulips, primulas, saxifrages, Incarvillea, and Dodecatheon.

based on materials from the website www.flower.onego.ru