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What is this plant?

13

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  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Star of bethlehem...thug! Not in our garden We had it one year and never saw it again.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The clue is where it says "often spreading rapidly by offsets".
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    One person’s invasive plant is another person’s ‘good do-er’. 
    So much depends on the soil, the local climate, the style of garden … and the energy of the gardener.  

    The snowdrops in my garden spread faster than Ornithogalum does … but no one in their right mind would describe snowdrops as invasive.  😊 

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





  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    I wish I could grow Star of Bethlehem.   "One person’s invasive plant is another person’s ‘good do-er’."  For me it's a no do-er.

    I have it now in a wild flower lawn, but it never flowers.

    TheGardenerFromMars. Can you please let us know what it is when you have seen the flowers.  Both start about April.
     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."
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    I checked my records and found I have a few Star of Bethlehem bulbs growing in a pot in a shady area. They have never flowered. Today I brushed the leaves between thumb and forefinger and could detect a very slight garlic/onion type scent, which somewhat surprised me - maybe this helps?
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Just looking on www ..found this fact re the way the leaves grow...see link.
    I never knew it is poisonous.

    https://gardenerdy.com/star-of-bethlehem-flower/

    "Flower Bulb of the Star of Bethlehem

    The bulb belongs to the winter lily family. The bulb of the Star of Bethlehem can turn into a nuisance if you allow it to run wild in your garden. It is native to the Mediterranean region. These flowers are thumb sized, white, and naked. They grow by sending tufts of green leaves on winter. You will find each of the bright grass-like leaf is marked with a white line down the midrib. The large flower bulbs can produce many offsets. Therefore, the foliage clumps may be about 6 inches across. These resemble garlic clumps, but can be easily differentiated as they produce no odor on crushing. Also, the garlic foliage grows straight up and Star of Bethlehem has arching leaves. The leaves of this plant die with the arrival of summer and the bulbs go dormant."

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Just looking on www ..found this fact re the way the leaves grow...see link.
    I never knew it is poisonous.

    https://gardenerdy.com/star-of-bethlehem-flower/

    "Flower Bulb of the Star of Bethlehem

    The bulb belongs to the winter lily family. The bulb of the Star of Bethlehem can turn into a nuisance if you allow it to run wild in your garden. It is native to the Mediterranean region. These flowers are thumb sized, white, and naked. They grow by sending tufts of green leaves on winter. You will find each of the bright grass-like leaf is marked with a white line down the midrib. The large flower bulbs can produce many offsets. Therefore, the foliage clumps may be about 6 inches across. These resemble garlic clumps, but can be easily differentiated as they produce no odor on crushing. Also, the garlic foliage grows straight up and Star of Bethlehem has arching leaves. The leaves of this plant die with the arrival of summer and the bulbs go dormant."

    Tha is interesting to know. @silv@"Silver surfer" . I am wondering now if I had garlic residue on my hands from cooking when I checked my Star of Bethlehem today. My leaves are not well-developed but I did not see a white line running through them.  I am also concerned about the toxicity/alkaloids within the plant and may decide to remove it.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    An update: I have not cooked with garlic today and I checked my plants and guess what? I could not detect any hint of garlic/onion on them and I did see the white line/indentation/ slight crease growing vertically in the centre of the leaves. Will try to send a photo if I can.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348

    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    The white line - looks like the leaf catching the light - but is a vertical indentation running the length of the leaf. I planted this in 2021.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
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