Moxie Gardener

Star of Bethlehem

When you think of seasonal Christmas plants what comes to mind?  Certainly not the Star of Bethlehem.  These hardy perennial bulbs, with their star-shaped white flowers and lance-like leaves, are a stunning addition to your Christmas decor.

Commonly called “Star of Bethlehem,” its Latin name is Ornithogalum arabicum, a member of the Hyacinthaceae family.  Star of Bethlehem is native to southern Europe and is hardy in Zones 4 through 10.  Star of Bethlehem grows 6 to 12 inches high and will do well in either sun or partial shade.

Like most other cold-hardy bulbs, Star of Bethlehem blooms in late spring from bulbs planted the previous fall.  The flowers last nearly two weeks and the foliage withers away by mid-summer.

Plant bulbs of Star of Bethlehem at a depth equal to three times their diameter, just like other spring blooming bulbs.

To force bulbs for bloom at Christmas, pot up in early-September.  Water well and store in darkness at a temperature of 35 to 50 degrees F. for 12 to 16 weeks.  In early December, move to a spot with indirect sunlight at a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees F.  When the shoots turn green, expose to a comfortable room temperature (68 to 70 degrees F.) and more direct sunlight.  Rotate the pots so all receive equal amounts of light.  The buds will appear in 3 to 4 weeks.  When buds appear, move to more indirect light to prolong length of bloom.

Star of Bethlehem is a refreshing change from traditional blooming holiday plants.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 at 7:10 AM and is filed under Flowers, Indoor Gardening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.