How to Care for a Ornithogalum Dubium Plant

The ornithogalum dubium is a perennial bulb that bursts into bloom with bright tangerine colored flowers. This drop -ead gorgeous member of the lily family can be found in a variety of habitats, but is not frost tolerant and is therefore better suited to containers for those in chilly northern climates. Commonly known as "the sun star" or "snake flower", the ornithogalum dubium requires a bit of work to grow, but the stunning foliage is well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Sun star plant
• Potting soil
• Organic material
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Keep the sun star in moist, high quality potting medium until you are ready to transplant it, either to a larger pot or to the garden. Check the soil every day to ensure it does not dry out.

2. Remove any spent flowers by gently pulling the spike from the main body of the plant. This may seem harmful, but once the plant has bloomed, it will die back on its own. But with proper care, it will come back into bloom each winter.

3. Transplant the snake flower to the outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. If you live somewhere the temperature regularly drops below freezing in the winter months, it would be wise to transplant into an outdoor planter for ease of transport as the plants will need to be brought indoors for the winter.

4. Choose a planting site that will allow the ornithogalum to receive full sun. In hot, arid climates, the ornithogalum dubium will tolerate partial shade, but must still receive sunlight for at least six hours each day.

5. Amend the soil by adding organic material such as peat moss, compost, or decomposed manure raising the planting site two to three inches above ground level. Elevation of the planting site will improve the drainage.

6. Water the plant once it has been transplanted. Then check the plant every day, adding water any time the soil feels dry to the touch.

7. Apply standard household plant fertilizer, using ½ of the amount recommended on the package. Too much fertilizer will actually limit the number of blooms rather than encourage production. Feed the sun star when the blooms have faded for the season.

8. Protect the ornithogalum from cold weather, moving the plants indoors or under cover when there is a threat of frost.

Tips & Warnings

• All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested.

References

• The Pacific Bulb Society: Ornithogalum dubium
• Ornithogalum dubium - Snake Flower
• GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF ORNITHOGALUM DUBIUM

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish