Anthericum ramosum aka Branched St. Bernard's Lily

Anthericum ramosum belongs to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial: a non-woody plant that lives for years. Its common name is branched St Bernard’s lily. Its native range runs from Europe to northern Türkiye. It grows in temperate regions, but is not native to Britain or Ireland. Phalangium ramosum is another scientific name for this species.

This plant grows upright from rhizomes, or underground stems. Its long, narrow, grey-green leaves look like straps. It sheds its leaves, so they do not stay year-round. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. Their spread falls within the same range. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. White flowers shaped like stars rise above the leaves. They bloom in early and mid-summer. The flower spikes stand on stems about 3 feet [0.9 metres] high. The pale blooms stand out against the grey-green leaves below.

This species needs full sun to grow well. The RHS calls for moist soil that drains well in summer. Water must drain well in winter too. It grows in chalk, loam and sand. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soil. It can grow in exposed sites or sheltered spots. Sites that face south, east or west all suit it. It prefers moist soil in summer. Even so, the RHS lists it as drought resistant. Its UK hardiness rating is H5. Chicago Botanic Garden lists it for USDA zones 4–7.

This plant suits cottage gardens, informal beds and flower borders. The RHS also suggests it for gravel gardens, banks and slopes. You can cut its flowers for use indoors. The seed spikes add interest once the blooms fade. Leave them in place to keep that later display. Cut them back instead if you wish to stop self-seeding. The RHS also lists it for gardens that need little care.

Slugs and snails may cause trouble, but disease is uncommon overall. You can grow plants from seed or split them by division. Sow seeds in pots in a cold frame in spring or autumn. Divide plants in spring. The supplied sources give no details on this species’ edible parts or toxicity. Thus, they give no basis to treat it as food. Nor do they give grounds to judge its safety.