Common Star-of-Bethlehem (Wildflowers of Eisenhower State Park)

Common Star-of-Bethlehem

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Summary ⁷

Ornithogalum umbellatum, the garden star-of-Bethlehem, grass lily, nap-at-noon, or eleven-o'clock lady, is a perennial bulbous flowering plant, native throughout most of southern and central Europe, north-western Africa and south-western Asia. In North America, it has escaped its cultivation as a garden ornamental and can be found in many areas.

Ornithogalum umbellatum ⁸

Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star-of-Bethlehem, Grass Lily, Nap-at-Noon, Eleven-o'clock Lady), is a perennial bulbous flowering plant, native throughout most of southern and central Europe (north to Austria and Belgium), and in northwestern Africa and southwestern Asia.^[1] In North America, it has escaped its cultivation as a garden ornamental and can be found in many areas.^[2]

1Description
2Cultivation
3Gallery
4References

Description

This plant is perennial with bulbs below ground; the bulb is 15-25 mm long and 18-32 mm diameter. It has six to ten leaves, linear with a white line on upper surface, up to 30 cm long and 8 mm broad, and a scape of 10-30 cm. The flowers group in a corymbose raceme with 6-20 flowers, and are white with a green stripe outside.^[3]^[4]

Cultivation

O. umbellatum require a lot of moisture during winter & spring, but tolerate summer droughtiness. It can be grown in the woodland garden. Semi-shade is preferable. It is hardy to hardiness zone 5, and can become weedy. The plant is toxic. Used in some herbal remedies.^[5]^[6]