Ornithogalum umbellatum aka Star Of Bethlehem

Ornithogalum umbellatum, also known as the garden star-of-Bethlehem, grass lily, nap-at-noon, or eleven-o'clock lady, is a perennial bulbous flowering plant in the asparagus family. This relatively short plant produces tufts of basal linear leaves and conspicuous white flowers in a stellate pattern in mid to late spring. The flowers open late in the day, giving it some of its common names, and have a green stripe on the outside when closed. O. umbellatum is native to southern and central Europe, as well as north-western Africa, and is often grown as a garden ornamental. However, it has escaped cultivation in many areas, including North America, and can become an invasive noxious weed. Despite being considered poisonous, parts of the plant are used in some regional cuisines, and essences are sold as patent remedies. O. umbellatum has been depicted in art by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, and folklore suggests it originally grew from fragments of the star of Bethlehem, hence its horticultural name. The Star of Bethlehem is a winter bulb belonging to the Lily family, and blooms in late spring or early summer. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is similar to wild garlic but does not have the garlic odor when crushed. While its foliage has arching leaves, the plant is often considered a noxious weed when it escapes cultivation and can quickly become a danger to native plant life. However, some gardeners suggest that Star of Bethlehem flowers are good companion plants for early blooming hellebores and dianthus. Ornithogalum bulbs can be grown in a variety of light conditions and are great for use in beds, borders, as ground covers, in rock gardens, and woodland gardens.