Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Ornithogalum umbellatum

Ornithogalum umbellatum

"Star of Bethlehem"

Ornithogalum umbellatum

25 bulbs — £4.75

Autumn planting season is currently closed
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed before 1 September 2024
You can expect your order in September 2024

Orders placed 1 September - 15 October 2024
You can expect your order in October 2023

Orders placed 16 October - 15 December 2024
You can expect your order within 10 business days

Available for (pre)ordering again in May
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

More info

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Description

If you have a spot in the garden that you don't know what to do with, either in full sun or part shade, then the Star of Bethlehem, or Ornithogalum umbellatum, is just what you need. The smallest packet of bulbs will be sufficient to start you off, but the largest packet of bulbs will give you a gorgeous carpet of low-growing, grass-like leaves. They are greyish green, and generally fold back, flat to the soil. In mid- to late spring there are numerous white, starry flowers.

The backs of the petals are striped with pale grey-green. The flowers are arranged in loose heads, each bloom being held on a stalk, away from the stem; the stalks lowest down tend to be the longest, so the head is in a broad-based pyramid shape, wider than it is tall. Typically, between six and nine flowers are carried in each head.

Ornithogalum umbellatum looks wonderful when planted under deciduous trees and shrubs, or in large drifts on a sunny bank. Incidentally, the flowers have very precise habits, opening at 11 o'clock in the morning, and closing at 3 o'clock in the afternoontime them! When open, they are loved by bees and other pollinators.

Key features

  • Perfect for pots

  • Comes back every year

  • Thrives well in full sun

  • Packed in paper bags

  • Low maintenance

  • Fully hardy

  • Rodent resistant

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Ornithogalum umbellatum

  • Flower colour

    White

  • Bulb size

    6/+

  • Established height

    10-20cm

  • Established spread

    10-20cm

  • Plant spacing

    100 bulbs per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Green

  • Habit

    Upright

  • Life cycle

    Perennial, Naturalising

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    1st year

  • Sunlight

    Full sun

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Borders
    Coastal gardens
    Cottage gardens
    Gravel gardens
    Large containers
    Low maintenance gardens
    Pots
    Rockery

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Free draining

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Loam-based compost
    Multipurpose compost
    Sandy

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    No

  • Pollinator-friendly

    No

  • Mouse resistant

    Yes

  • Rabbit resistant

    No

  • Deer resistant

    No

  • Toxicity

    Skin/eyes irritant
    Harmful if eaten

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • Plant your Ornithogalum umbellatum bulbs from mid to late autumn;

    • Plant in borders or containers in sun or partial shade;

    • Plant your "Star of Bethlehem" bulbs two to three times as deep as the bulb is high;

    • Space the bulbs about twice the bulb diameter apart;

    • Place the Ornithogalum umbellatum bulbs with the pointed side facing upwards.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed before 1 September 2024
    You can expect your order in September 2024

    Orders placed 1 September - 15 October 2024
    You can expect your order in October 2024

    Orders placed 16 October - 15 December 2024
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

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