Blue dicks.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Cormous perennial

Light

Full sun to light shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

2 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 7 to 10

Bloom time

Late winter to mid spring

Care

Plant these corms in well draining soil where they can enjoy full sun during their active growing season. Watch for the foliage to yellow and fade as the plant enters its natural summer dormancy. Avoid overwatering once the leaves begin to wither.

Watering

Keep the soil moist but not soggy during the active winter and spring growth period.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once or twice during the early spring growth phase.

Pruning

Remove the spent flower stalks and foliage only after they have completely turned brown and died back.

Repotting

Divide the corms during the summer dormancy period if the container becomes too crowded.

Soil

Sandy or rocky well draining soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

-7 to 35°C

Humidity

20 to 50%

Safety

People

The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause irritation if ingested or handled by sensitive individuals.

Children

Keep the corms away from small children as they can be a choking hazard and may cause mouth irritation if chewed.

Contact allergens

The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive people due to calcium oxalate crystals.

Airborne allergens

There is no significant evidence of airborne allergens associated with this species.

Edibility

The corms are technically edible after thorough cooking, but they are not considered a standard food source and should be avoided.

How to identify it

• Clusters of violet funnel shaped flowers
• Slender leafless flowering stalks
• Grass like basal leaves
• Flowers arranged in a head

Height

0.2 to 0.6m

Spread

0.1 to 0.2m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

blue, violet, white, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

• Bulb RotCommon
• DehydrationUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed, offsets

When to plant

autumn

Plant these with other summer dormant bulbs to ensure the area does not look bare once the foliage dies back.

Grows well with

• California Poppy · They share similar drought requirements and bloom at the same time.
• Blue-eyed Grass · They create a beautiful color contrast in spring meadows.

Similar species

• Ithuriel's Spear · It has a similar appearance but blooms slightly later in the season.

Science

Family

Asparagaceae

Genus

Dipterostemon

Order

Asparagales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Western North America, primarily California and Oregon.

Conservation

It is widespread and common in its native range, so it is not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in open grasslands and woodlands, utilizing its corm to survive seasonal drought.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Uses

rock gardens, native plant meadows, pollinator gardens

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need summer water?

No, it prefers to be kept dry during its summer dormancy.

Is it easy to grow?

Yes, it is quite low maintenance if planted in well draining soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name comes from the Greek words for two, wing and stamen, referring to the wing-like appendages on the stamens, while the species name means headed, describing the flower cluster.

Good to know

• It is a cormous geophyte that survives dry summers underground.
• The flowers are arranged in a dense head called an umbel.
• It is highly drought tolerant once established.