Ornithogalum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Galtonia
- Phonetic Spelling
- or-nith-oh-GAY-lum
- Description
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Star of Bethlehem is a genus of 220 species of flowering, perennial bulbs in the asparagus family, native to Europe and northern Africa. They tend to be showy plants with tall spikes of white flowers that blossom in late summer and early fall when other perennials are fading. Depending on species, the spikes with up to 30 pendant, bell-shaped, flowers can rise to 4 feet high from long, dark green, strap-shaped leaves.
Plant this bulb in the fall buried in rich, well-drained soil to a depth of 4 inches and spaced 2 to 5 inches apart. Site plants in full sun and keep the soil evenly moist.
It looks great in borders fronts, but can also be used as a ground-cover or grown in containers. It is often offered as a florist plant. The flowers are long-lasting and make excellent cut flowers for arrangements. They open gradually from the bottom to the top of the spike and the leaves die back gradually after flowering.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No significant issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- O. arabicum
Long lasting cut flowers, blue-green leaves. - O. candicans
summer-flowering racemes of large, white, bell-shaped flowers. - O . saundersiae
Tender perennial, 2 foot leaves, white flowers with black overies.
O. thyrsoides
Two feet high, narrow leaves, dense flowers. O. umbellatum
Spreads rapidly, white mid-vein on leaves, early summer blooms. - O. arabicum
- O. arabicum, O. candicans, O . saundersiae, O. thyrsoides, O. umbellatum
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- O. arabicum
Long lasting cut flowers, blue-green leaves. - O. candicans
summer-flowering racemes of large, white, bell-shaped flowers. - O . saundersiae
Tender perennial, 2 foot leaves, white flowers with black overies.
O. thyrsoides
Two feet high, narrow leaves, dense flowers. O. umbellatum
Spreads rapidly, white mid-vein on leaves, early summer blooms. - O. arabicum
- O. arabicum, O. candicans, O . saundersiae, O. thyrsoides, O. umbellatum
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ornithogalum
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Northern and Southern Africa, Baltic Countries
- Distribution:
- Eastern Canada, Eastern and Central United States, Britain, Denmark, Sweden, parts of Australia
- Bulb Storage:
- Bulbs can be lifted, dried, and stored over the winter in colder climates. Store bulbs dry in vermiculite at 63-72 degrees F (17-23C).
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 5 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- 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
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Oblong
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- White bell-shaped flowers with green center that are long lasting, fragrant, and make good cut flowers. Blooms open gradually from the bottom to top of the spike.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Species have linear basal leaves, strap-shaped, that die down after the flowers fade.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in a single cap like scale
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Slender stalk, up to 1 foot tall.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
