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Ornithogalum nutans - Drooping/nodding star of Bethlehem

paulsturgesspaulsturgess Posts: 9
in Wildlife gardening
I like the look of these, but I was wondering are they good for pollinators in the UK?

I've searched online and they appear to be sold on a few 'wild flower' shops, but there's no mention of their value to wildlife. 

Posts

  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Don't do it!  They are an absolute menace and once in your garden pop up - mostly not flowering - all around the bed and almost impossible to get rid of.  I let the dandelions flower at this time of year for pollinators - they are less of a pest.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • paulsturgesspaulsturgess Posts: 9
    They are an absolute menace

    Interesting, I had read that Ornithogalum umbellatum can be aggressive. But I hadn't read the same for Ornithogalum nutans.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    O. Nutans are native to parts of Europe and said to naturalise and spread if they’re happy with their conditions. 
    They’re certainly listed as invasive in parts of the US. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • paulsturgesspaulsturgess Posts: 9
    Thank you for the info. Is it normal for the RHS to give the award of garden merit to such an aggressive plant?

    I’m still unsure if it’s good for UK wildlife or not. 
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