Star-of-Bethlehem
Star-of-Bethlehem - Ornithogalum umbellatum
Alternative names
Garden Star-of Bethlehem, Common Star-of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum angustifolium
Description
Short, hairless erect plant with 6 to 9 linear channelled leaves. Flowers glistening white stars 28 to 38 mm, anthers yellow, the tepals with a broad band of green on the outside.
Habitat
Grassy places, meadows and roadside verges.
When to see it
April to June.
Life History
Perennial - Sometimes seen as a casual or garden escape, but as shown in the photographs, established colonies do exist in flower meadows in our area.
UK Status
Naturalised much of Britain but never common
VC55 Status
Uncommon as a naturalised flower in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 8 of the 617 tetrads.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020



