This page contains Ornithogalum species Native to areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Plants are hardy to very hardy autumn-winter-spring growers. They are mostly spring bloomers. They demand good sunlight and cool growing conditions.
Ornithogalum index - Southern African Ornithogalum A-O - Southern African Ornithogalum P-Z
Ornithogalum arabicum is a widespread species native to the Mediterranean Sea area. Growing outside in Riverside, CA. Photo by Jennifer Hildebrand.
Ornithogalum fimbriatum is a small species native to the Balkans and Turkey, named for its hairy leaves. It flowers just at ground level in late winter, and often produces a second flowering on taller stems later in the spring. It increases very slowly. Photo by Jane McGary
Ornithogalum lanceolatum is found in southern Anatolia, Turkey, and Israel. Photos by Alessandro Marinello.
Ornithogalum magnum is native to the Caucasus. It is well named because the scapes can easily go up to 3 feet (1m) high, and with the high bud count the plant remains in bloom for weeks. From a distance it looks like an Asphodelus or a gigantic Habenaria/Platanthera. Photo #1 was taken by Jim McKenney on May 29, 2006 in his garden USDA zone 7, Maryland, USA. Photos #2-3 were taken by Kathleen Sayce.
Ornithogalum montanum is a Mediterranean species dwelling in arid and stony grassland, superficially similar to O.umbellatum. It differs in the wide leaves, which lay to the ground, without any silver median stripe. The plant is solitary (no suckering) although the photo shows a clump of several plants grown together. The first photo was taken in habitat by Angelo Porcelli and the last two pictures of the flowers were taken by Mary Sue Ittner.
Ornithogalum narbonense is native to the Mediterranean area. Photos by Kathleen Sayce.
Ornithogalum nutans is native to southeastern Europe and the Near East. It is widely naturalized in eastern North America. The plants shown here were photographed on April 18, 2008 in Turkey Run Park along the Potomac River in northern Virginia, USA by Jim McKenney.
Ornithogalum ponticum is native to the Caucasus. Photos by Kathleen Sayce.
Ornithogalum reverchonii is native to southwestern Spain and Morocco, growing in crevices in limestone, but it does not require lime in cultivation, as evident in the photographed plants, which were grown from seed and are kept in a bulb frame in Oregon in mildly acid gritty soil. They flower in late spring and are particularly elegant with their pure white pendent flowers on tall stems. The leaves are long and lax. Photo by Jane McGary
Ornithogalum sintenisii is typical of the larger short-stemmed ornithogalums of the Mediterranean region, and is available commercially. It is hardy to at least 20 degrees F. Photo by Jane McGary.
Ornithogalum umbellatum is a charming species spread all over the Mediterranean basin. Photo taken in habitat in Apulia by Angelo Porcelli.
Ornithogalum index - Southern African Ornithogalum A-O - Southern African Ornithogalum P-Z