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Accession Data:

Aristea ecklonii Baker

  • Common Name: Blue Flies, Blue Stars
  • Family: Iridaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Cameroon, Uganda to S. Africa

  • Description: This has been likened to a tall, dark blue "blue-eyed grass" (Sisyrinchium), to which it is related. Height about 18 inches, with irislike foliage. Clump-forming perennial for sun or light shade.

  • Culture: Aristea ecklonii roots do not like to be disturbed, and plants may not bloom the first year after transplanting. Does well in full sun or light shade. Grow Aristea ecklonii in humus rich, well-drained soil, with plenty of moisture in summer. Propagate by seed which is produced in abundance. Division of the rooted clumps is sometimes successful. 4
  • USDA Zone: 8b-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198600076
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1986
  • Bench: 2114 - MED:Fynbos F
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 03-03-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • SubClass: monocots
  • Order: Asparagales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Iridaceae
  • SubFamily: Aristeoideae
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

References (internal):

  • EEB 3271 - Systematic Botany
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Burundi / Cameroon / Rwanda / Zaire / Tanzania / Uganda / Mozambique / Zimbabwe / Cape Provinces / KwaZulu-Natal / Swaziland / Northern Provinces /

References (external):

  1. Southern Perennials & Herbs Website
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 21 May 2015.
  3. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 21 May 2015
  4. Aristea ecklonii at Floridata. Accessed 21 May 2015.
  5. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website at MoBot. Last accessed on Tuesday, 03 December, 2019.

data regenerated on Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:42:26 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Aristea ecklonii

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Iridaceae

  • Lapeirousia jacquinii

Subfamily Aristeoideae

  • Aristea ecklonii

Subfamily Crocoideae

  • Crocus sativus
  • Hesperantha coccinea
  • Ixia amethystina

Subfamily Crocoideae
Tribe Gladioleae

  • Gladiolus alatus
  • Gladiolus kamiesbergensis
  • Gladiolus murielae

Subfamily Crocoideae
Tribe Ixieae

  • Babiana blanda
  • Tritonia deusta

Subfamily Iridoideae
Tribe Irideae

  • Ferraria crispa
  • Iris germanica
  • Iris sibirica
  • Moraea vegeta

Subfamily Iridoideae
Tribe Sisyrinchieae

  • Libertia ixioides

Subfamily Iridoideae
Tribe Trimezieae

  • Neomarica gracilis
  • Trimezia steyermarkii

Subfamily Ixioideae
Tribe Freesieae

  • Freesia alba
  • Freesia fucata W/C
  • Freesia laxa
  • Freesia occidentalis
  • Freesia refracta W/C
  • Freesia unidentified

Subfamily Ixioideae
Tribe Ixieae

  • Dierama galpinii
  • Geissorhiza radians W/C

Subfamily Ixioideae
Tribe Watsonieae

  • Watsonia aletroides W/C
  • Watsonia sp.
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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