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Ornithogalum dubium
Also called Orange Star, Varicoloured Chicherinchee, Yellow Chincherinchee
A bulbous perennial from the Cape of South Africa with bright orange to yellow star-shaped flowers in late winter or spring. It needs excellent drainage, full sun, and a dry, frost-free rest period.
Ornithogalum dubium, common names sun star, star of Bethlehem orange star, or yellow chincherinchee, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It is a South African (Cape Province) endemic.
The Latin specific epithet dubium means "dubious" or "unlike others of the genus".
O. dubium is frost-tender and is best overwintered in a dry, frost-free place, then re-potted in spring. The main soil requirement is excellent drainage, with ample water early in the growth cycle, but dry during the dormant season. The plant should be grown in a sheltered spot in full sun. It is reported to be toxic by ingestion, and the leaves cause irritation.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Brotero's Star Of Bethlehem · Summer Hyacinth · Drooping star of Bethlehem · Pyrenees star of Bethlehem · Chincherinchee · Sleepydick
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ornithogalum dubium by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
