Common Star-of-Bethlehem

Ornithogalum umbellatum

L. Species

Ornithogalum umbellatum
dinnie16 via iNaturalist — CC0 1.0
Ornithogalum umbellatum photograph 1 Ornithogalum umbellatum photograph 2 Ornithogalum umbellatum photograph 3 Ornithogalum umbellatum photograph 4 Ornithogalum umbellatum photograph 5 Ornithogalum umbellatum photograph 6
Botanical name
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Also known as
Common Star-of-Bethlehem, Garden Star-of-Bethlehem, Nap-At-Noon, Pyrenees Star-of-Bethlehem, Sleepy Dick, Sleepy-Dick, Sleepydick, Star of Bethlehem, Star-of-Bethlehem, Summer Snowflake
Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Ornithogalum
Flowering period
May to June
Height
15–30 cm
Spread
10–15 cm
Hardiness
Fully hardy (RHS H6)
Reference
World Flora Online

How to grow Common Star-of-Bethlehem

Written by Steve Davis Last reviewed 21 July 2026 Written for UK gardens How we research our guidance

Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Watering
Low; no watering needed once established
Soil
Well-drained, tolerant of poor and stony ground
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline

Planting

Plant bulbs about 8 cm deep in autumn. Rough grass, gravel or a bank suits it better than a border.

Pruning

Deadhead before seed sets if you want to limit spread. Foliage dies back on its own by midsummer.

Propagation

It increases readily by bulb offsets - lift and separate in summer if you want more. You will rarely need to propagate it deliberately.

Pests and diseases

Generally trouble-free.

Notes

This one spreads hard, by offsets as much as seed, and small bulbils left behind when you dig will each make a new plant. Think carefully before introducing it to a border; it is very difficult to remove once it is in. It is also worth checking its toxicity before planting where children or pets have access.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Ornithogalum umbellatum but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Hyacinthus umbellatus Ornithogalum affine Ornithogalum angustifolium Ornithogalum boraeanum Ornithogalum campestre Ornithogalum cespititium Ornithogalum comosum subsp. garganicum Ornithogalum corymbosum Ornithogalum dioscoridis Ornithogalum fasciculatum Ornithogalum garganicum Ornithogalum horologicum Ornithogalum minus Ornithogalum nanum Ornithogalum parviflorum Ornithogalum peyrei Ornithogalum praetextum Ornithogalum preumbellatum Ornithogalum rusticum Ornithogalum stellare Ornithogalum tardans Ornithogalum umbellatum subsp. angustifolium Ornithogalum umbellatum subsp. campestre Ornithogalum umbellatum var. angustifolium Ornithogalum umbellatum var. minus Ornithogalum umbellatum var. nanum Ornithogalum vulgare Scilla campestris Stellaris corymbosa

Others in Ornithogalum

Ornithogalum × gugliae
Ornithogalum abyssinicum
Ornithogalum alatum
Ornithogalum alpigenum
Ornithogalum amblyocarpum
Ornithogalum amphibolum
Ornithogalum anamurense
Ornithogalum anatolicum

GardenDecoded is an educational gardening reference. Botanical data comes from World Flora Online and GBIF; growing guidance is our own. Always check a plant's toxicity and local invasiveness status before planting, and never eat or apply a plant based on this site alone.