Lavender Starflower. Grewia occidentalis, Linden Family: ( Tiliaceae ), Also Called: Lavender Star Flower, Cross-Berry, Four-Corner, Buttonwood, Grewia caffra. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Lavender Starflower is a shrub, spreading out 6 to 10 feet and almost as tall. Grewia occidentalis has dark green, oblong, finely-toothed 3 - inch long leaves. Commonly named for its 1 - inch wide, lavendar pink, star-shaped flowers, with yellow centers, blooming late in the spring and sporadically into fall and sometimes in late winter. It is of the Linden Family, Tiliaceae, which are chiefly trees and shrubs of tropical and temperate regions especially in southeastern Asia and Brazil. The Tiliaceae are trees, shrubs, or rarely herbs comprising about 50 genera and 450 species that are further characterized by the presence of branched or stellate hairs. The dried fruits are sometimes boiled in milk to make a bush milkshake! Beer is also brewed from the ripe fruit in certain areas. When growing Lavender Starflower the soil should be slightly moist but not waterlogged. You should feed Lavender Star Flower about three times a year with a product containing acid. This type of shrub or small tree tends to become chlorotic, therefor you should provide it with an iron supplement once a year. DO NOT OVERWATER! Used in Bonsai. Quick Notes: Height: Up to about 6 - 10 feet tall and 6 - 10 feet wide. Flowers: The flowers are 1 inch and lavendar pink, star shaped. Flowering Time: July to August. Leaves: Dark green, simple and nearly always alternate, stipules are present. Found: South African from the Western Cape up to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Including Botswana, Namibia. Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) 8.6 to 9.0 (strongly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Partial Shade Elevation: 800 - 4,800 feet. Habitat: Very well drained soil is preferred. But the soil needs to be kept moist. We do not recommend it as a xeriscape landscape plant in Arizona. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken January 04, 2008. Glendale, Arizona Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.