Aristea ecklonii aka Blue Corn Lily

Aristea ecklonii is an evergreen perennial in the iris family, Iridaceae. Its native range includes Cameroon and stretches from Uganda to South Africa. Kew records it as a plant of seasonally dry tropical regions. It grows from rhizomes and forms a clump of upright leaves. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The RHS lists it under the common name blue stars.

The leaves have a sword-like shape and stay green year-round. They give the clump an upright form beyond the flowering season. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread ranges from 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. The RHS gives two to five years for reaching full size. These dimensions suit beds as well as pots in sheltered spaces. Allow for the full spread when choosing a planting spot.

Blue flowers appear in summer on loosely branched flower spikes. Each bloom has a shallow, saucer-like shape. The flower spikes rise among the erect leaves. This pairs a firm leaf shape with a looser flower display. Once blooms fade, cut the spent spikes back to their base. Remove old leaves when they become untidy. These are the pruning tasks given by the RHS for this species.

Choose full sun and loamy soil that drains well. Acid or neutral soil suits this plant. The RHS recommends a sheltered site with a south-facing aspect. Its UK hardiness rating is H3. This suits coastal areas and other places with mild winters. Most gardens need to provide winter protection. Only the most sheltered sites may avoid that need. The supplied moisture guidance spans dry to moist conditions. Good drainage remains a clear part of the growing advice.

The RHS suggests this species for courtyard and city gardens. It also lists gravel gardens, borders, beds, patios, and containers. Mediterranean-style planting is another suggested use. Its evergreen leaves offer foliage when flowers are absent. The RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems. To raise new plants, sow seed indoors in spring or autumn. Keep the seed at 15–20°C during propagation. The supplied sources give no information on edible parts or toxicity.