My Corner Online

Flower Index Index by Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6

Ornithogalum umbellatum | Star-of-Bethlehem, Grass Lily

First Bloom Dates:

2017 April 15

2018 April 25

2019 April 18

2022 April 23

2023 April 17

2024 April 11

Ornithogalum umbellatum | Star-of-Bethlehem, Grass Lily

Pronounced Or-nith-oh-GAY-lum Um-bell-LAY-tum

Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family) (Pronounced ah-spare-a-gay-see-eye) (formerly Liliaceae or Lily Family)

The Star-of-Bethlehem is a bulb. Just like the Tulip, there are three petals and three sepals, which together are called Tepals, that form a star shape because each are pointy. The flowers are a bright white with green lines underneath.

The leaves are grass-like and very green and have a white stripe running down them. They very much resemble a crocus leaf, but are somewhat taller. This plant can naturalize which is why sometimes I read people complaining that it is invasive, but mine has never been such. I think it might spread more into the lawn if I did not contain it well in my garden bed. The leaves turn yellow and die back, disappearing later in the season just as with most bulbs.

This plant is toxic to pets.

The Missouri native plant called False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve) is similar but has yellow-like flowers with pointier petals..

I had previously, in 2017 when I began my flower journal, identified this plant at Ipheion uniflorum (Pronounced If-EE-on You-nih-FLOR-um) with is known as Spring Starflower. These seems incorrect. I have photos of this flower going back to 2003, but it may be much older than that.

In 2024 I was complete revamping my garden beds and remember seeing these grass-like leaves, but did not remember what the plant produced, and may have dug and thrown them all out. What a shame! Maybe they will come back next year as some bulbs surely are hiding under the dirt yet.

2024