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What is this plant?

24

Posts

  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I think its Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) which is very invasive.  I have loads of it in my garden - the tiny bulbs go deep into my sandy soil and even though a massive excavation job resulted in my digging out loads of them last year I see their horrid green leaves again this year.  Pulling them doesn't work, the leaves just break off.  And as the bulbs are deep then tend not to flower.

    It's also poisonous so don't eat it!

    More here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/11962/ornithogalum-umbellatum/details
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Looks like you have found the answer good luck with dealing with it sorry to say. It has tiny bulbils that you can easily miss and off it goes again.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    didyw said:
    I think its Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) which is very invasive.  
    Good suggestion.
    Yet another thug!
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    Today:  Allium triquetrum , three cornered leek.  Look at the base of the leaf for the 3-cornered section.  Try again to smell it, perhaps the bulbs are stronger. But they are quite mild in taste and smell.



    Like the Star of Bethlehem, invasive but worthwhile.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Yes!  Star of Bethlehem, not one to be eaten.  You can always rely on a couple of people on here  knowing what a plant is.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023

    Lyn said:
    You can always rely on a couple of people on here  knowing what a plant is.


     I agree.  But which "couple of people"?  The decision is yours.

     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Time will tell who is correct.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Waitrose was selling this Star of Bethlehem bulb in mixed boxes back in 2021-2022 when supermarkets suddenly cashed in on the new-found gardening craze after the pandemic began. It mysteriously hasn't been seen since..( I wonder why?!!! , :) )
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • TheGardenerFromMarsTheGardenerFromMars Posts: 65
    Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Going on the photos of the leaves, I think it's most likely to be Allium triquetrum. At least it's edible :)

    The garden owner doesn't seem overly concerned about it, but it does give the flower beds a rather messy look. They are so spread out rather than growing in clumps - it makes weeding feel like an all or nothing choice!
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Dovefromabove said:
    Do the leaves smell garlicky/oniony when crushed?  If so I think it’s allium triquetrum … the Three-cornered Leek. 
    TheGardenerFromMars said:
     I crushed a leaf but didn’t think it had any particular smell. It grows from tiny bulbs (I dug some up to check).


    Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Going on the photos of the leaves, I think it's most likely to be Allium triquetrum.

    Please wait until it flowers.
    You have been given several suggestions.
    You say it hadn't any particular smell.
    Alliums smell of onions as Dove says above.
    Allium triquetrum leaves are angular /triangular...did you check for this.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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