Plant Rhizome

Star of Bethlehem

Ornithogalum

A bulb. A short stem (the basal plate) wrapped in fleshy scales that hold the food store, with the next flower folded inside.

Whole
Cut open
StoreBulb. Cut it in half: you see layers like an onion.
Depth5-8 cm to the base of the bulb
Spacing8-10 cm apart
WhenPlant in autumn. Plant: from your first autumn frost to 6 weeks after. Work out your dates.
PetsNot on the ASPCA list: treat as unsafe to chew

About Star of bethlehem

Starry white flowers from a small bulb that spreads vigorously by offsets.

Depth and spacing

Typical range: 5-8 cm deep and 8-10 cm apart. A general rule is to plant at two to three times the height of the bulb; check the label for your variety. The drawing is to scale for 6.5 cm deep and 9 cm apart (the size of the organ is illustrative); try your own measurements.

0 cm2 cm4 cm6 cm8 cm10 cm12 cm14 cm16 cm18 cm9 cm apart6.5 cm

When to plant

Plant in autumn. Plant: from your first autumn frost to 6 weeks after. These are rules of thumb for the northern hemisphere. Enter your frost dates for real dates.

Dividing and propagating

Lift after flowering and separate.

Lifting and storing

Leave in place.

Not on the ASPCA list

The ASPCA plant list has no entry we could match to this plant, so we cannot say it is safe. Keep pets from chewing it and digging up the bulb, and ask your vet if in doubt. Search the ASPCA list.

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