Ornithogalum sphaerocarpum

jmsjon664@aol.com jmsjon664@aol.com
Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:50:04 PDT
I've been growing Ornithogalum pyrenaicum for quite a while and it is 
only recently that it's done any seeding at all, all to the good.  Its 
small, yellowish-brown flowers can only be called subtle but it offers 
a treat to the sharp-eyed true gardener, particularly when it 
insinuates itself into a wildly inappropriate pairing.
Jim Jones
Lexington, MA


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark McDonough <antennaria@charter.net>
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sun, Jul 19, 2009 11:16 am
Subject: Re: [pbs] Ornithogalum sphaerocarpum






From Jane McGary bulbs received in 2003, this was the first year 
Ornithogalum
sphaerocarpum.  When I planted the bulbs, I really didn't know much 
about it, so
the bulbs were situated completely wrong at the base of Hibiscus 
syriacus 'Blue
Bird' (blue Rose-of-Sharon), the 3' tall wands of green white-edged 
flowers
obscured by Hibiscus foliage.  Here's a photo showing a few delicate 
flowers
shaded amongst the shrub's foliage; photo taken on June 21, 2009.

http://plantbuzz.com/buzz/2009/…

I have since moved the plants to an open area among my allium garden; 
the 2
bulbs are rather large.  Only 5 "sphaerocarps" are setting seed. Doing 
Google
searches I see this species sometimes listed as Ornithogalum pyrenaicum 
ssp.
sphaerocarpum.  Does any know the current taxonomic status?  Is this 
species
really that slow growing (thus not a weedy spreader) to be considered a 
safe and
desirable Orni?.  It is not showy but if one likes green flowers (I 
do), then
this one certainly has an air of grace about it.

Mark McDonough
Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border, USDA Zone 5
antennaria@charter.net







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