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Ornithogalum narbonense

Narbonne star of Bethlehem

A bulbous perennial to 90cm tall, with linear, grey-green leaves to 60cm long and narrowly conical racemes of starry white flowers 2cm across, in late spring and early summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets if eaten (dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents) - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Ornithogalum are bulbous perennials with linear or strap-shaped basal leaves and racemes, sometimes contracted, of star-shaped or cup-shaped, white, yellow or orange flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Mediterranean to W Iran

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant 10cm deep in autumn in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in autumn or spring, in containers in a cold frame or separate offsets when dormant

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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