Ornithogalum Lanceolatum

Ornithogalum lanceolatum is a miniature eastern Mediterranean star-of-Bethlehem from southern Turkey and the Levant. Broad lance-shaped leaves spread close to the ground around short spring stems carrying relatively large white flowers, each petal marked by a green stripe on the reverse. The low habit and generous bloom size make it especially rewarding in an alpine pot, where the flowers can be viewed closely as they open in sunlight. A cool, moist winter and spring followed by a dry summer rest suit this compact species, which dislikes stagnant moisture around the bulb.