Ipheion (spring starflower) trial 2025–2026

Objectives and purpose of the trial

The purpose of this trial is to assess new and established Ipheion (spring starflower) varieties, focussing on Ipheion uniflorum selections. Ipheion is a spring-flowering bulb, with pastel-coloured, star-shaped flowers with strap-like green leaves appearing before the flowers, usually in winter. As Ipheion is less well known than other spring flowering bulbs, this is a great opportunity to showcase them at RHS Wisley, Surrey. As a relatively small trial, grown in containers, the RHS Trials team will have the opportunity to see the different varieties side-by-side, and those that perform best will be awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Star-like flowers of Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’ stand out from its foliage

Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ produces masses of dainty white flowers

Judges and criteria

Judging criteria

The following factors are all taken into consideration as part of the judging of the trial:

• Impact, balance of flower to foliage
• Leaf quality

• Flowering performance
• Health and vigour

List of plants in the trial

View all of the Ipheion on trial at RHS Wisley

• Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’
• Ipheion ‘Alice’
• Ipheion ‘Dusky Pink’
• Ipheion ‘Jessie’
• Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’
• Ipheion ‘Tessa’
• Ipheion uniflorum
• Ipheion uniflorum f. album (syn. ‘White Star’)
• Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’
• Ipheion uniflorum ‘Froyle Mill’
• Ipheion uniflorum ‘Hoo House’
• Ipheion uniflorum ‘Miss Hannah’
• Ipheion uniflorum ‘Rigel’
• Ipheion uniflorum ‘Wisley Blue’
• Ipheion uniflorum subsp. tandiliense

Get in touch

For more information on our RHS Plant Trials or to access older trial reports, please get in touch with our team via email at trials@rhs.org.uk.