Anthericum Baeticum

Anthericum baeticum is a miniature St Bernard's lily from the Iberian Peninsula, forming a neat tuft of narrow, grass-like leaves only a few centimetres high. Slender spring stems carry delicate white star-shaped flowers, each petal marked by a fine maroon or purple central stripe that becomes especially striking at close range. Its compact proportions and precise colouring make it an excellent plant for a trough, alpine house or the front of a sunny rock garden. Native to mountain country in Spain and Portugal, it prefers gritty, humus-rich soil, cool root conditions and excellent drainage around the crown.