Ornithogalum umbellatum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- or-nith-oh-GAY-lum um-bel-LAY-tum
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Star of Bethlehem is a beautiful, May-blooming bulbous perennial in the asparagus family and native to Europe and the Mediterranean region. At maturity, the plant will reach a height of 1 foot and a spread of 2 feet. It will produce fragrant, white flowers in late spring and early summer. The flowers are striped green on the outside and open near noon and close at sunset or in cloudy weather. The genus name comes from the Greek words ornis meaning a bird and gala meaning milk, referring to the white flowers. The species name refers to the flowers being in an umbel.
It grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sunlight, or partial sunlight that is afternoon or morning only, and even in 25% shade. Once established, it tolerates summer drought, but requires moisture during growing season. Plants go dormant after bloom, and do not like heavy moisture from late summer rains. When planting, bury 5 inches to the base of the bulb and space 2 to 3 inches apart, or 20 to 25 per square foot. Propagate by digging bulbs, removing the offsets and replanting.
Star of Bethlehem is ideal for use in beds, borders, as ground covers, in rock gardens, and in woodland gardens. This plant is considered hardy, but can be injured at temperatures below 5 degrees F (-15C).
Star of Bethlehem can be an aggressive spreader in the garden, will quickly naturalize in garden areas, and often escapes into the wild. It forms dense colonies that can exclude other species during the spring. Self-sown seedlings may appear. It is best sited in areas where it will not disturb other plants. This species is a Class C Noxious Weed in Alabama.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known insect or diseases. Bulb rot can occur in poorly drained soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ornithogalum
- Species:
- umbellatum
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East.
- Distribution:
- Introduced to United States, east of the Mississippi, Canada, Baltic states, and southern Australia.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees.
- Edibility:
- Can be poisonous to humans and cattle.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Each flower is replaced by a 3-celled seed capsule containing several black seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Raceme
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- From the center of the rosette, there develops one or more flowering stalks about 6 to 9 inches tall. Each stem bears 10 to 20 starry white flowers (each 3/4 of an inch wide) in an open, umbel-like, terminal cluster. Blooms in late spring, around May and lasting through June. Each flower consists of 6 white tepals, 6 stamens, and a single pistil. A green stripe is along the outer side of each tepal. A has a white filament underneath that is lanceolate or narrowly triangular in shape (tapering at the top) and is a distinctive characteristic for this species.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Rosette of basal linear leaves about 6 to 12 inches long and up to ΒΌ inch across. They curve upward from the base and bend downward around the middle. There is often a white stripe in the middle of each leaf, smooth margins, and parallel venation. Leaves begin to droop and fade in late spring or early summer as the blooms begin.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Flower bearing stems (6 to 8 inches high) rise in late spring to early summer.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Weedy
