Star of Bethlehem
Ornithogalum
Star of Bethlehem blooms from May through June.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Star of Bethlehem
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–9. Expect it to reach about 12 in tall and 4 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem is a fall-planted bulb: get it in the ground 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes, typically September or October across zones 4 to 9. It pays you back the following May to June.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in September.
Comes in 4 varieties across 2 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Star of Bethlehem
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
All parts are poisonous to dogs, cats, horses, livestock and people; cardiac glycosides, most concentrated in the bulb, cause vomiting and, in larger amounts, heart-rhythm changes. per Pet Poison Helpline
Worth knowing
It spreads by countless small bulblets around each bulb, not mainly by seed. That same trait makes it nearly impossible to dig out, and tilling only scatters it wider. per University of Illinois and Utah State
What makes it toxic
Sources disagree: NC State tags the toxin as saponin (medium severity), but poison control identifies dangerous cardiac glycosides. Treat the cardiac-glycoside risk as the real one. per NC State and Pet Poison Helpline
Invasive; check state lists
It escapes gardens and forms dense colonies that crowd out other plants. NC State flags it a Class C noxious weed in Alabama; Illinois reports it established statewide. per NC State and University of Illinois
Hardy bulb, no lifting
A hardy spring bulb: leave it in the ground year-round with no lifting or winter storage, and it returns reliably each year, dying back to the bulb by midsummer. per NC State and Utah State
Deer and rodent resistant
The same bitter, toxic chemistry that poisons pets also deters deer and rodents, so expect little browsing damage and no need for repellents or cages. per Michigan State
Flowers open only midday
Each white, star-shaped flower opens near midday and closes by evening or in cloudy weather, so the blooms and their pollinator window are brief. per NC State
What pairs well with Star of Bethlehem
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Joe Pye Weed
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
False Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; stands well above at 6.6 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Feather Reed Grass
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Pampas Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; stands well above at 8.2 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Rose of Sharon
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; stands well above at 8.2 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; a soft color beside the white.
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