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Products > Ornithogalum dubium   Ornithogalum dubium - Snake Flower THIS LISTING FOR INFORMATION ONLY - WE NO LONGER GROW THIS PLANT [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Bulb Family: Hyacinthaceae (~Amaryllidaceae) Origin: South Africa (Africa) Flower Color: Orange Bloomtime: Spring Height: <1 foot Width: <1 foot Exposure: Full Sun Irrigation Req.: Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes Ornithogalum dubium (Snake Flower) - Ornithogalum, is a genus of 80 species in the Lily family (more recently placed in the Hyacinthaceae). They are bulbous perennials found in a variety of habitats and most have white flowers resulting in the common name "Star of Bethlehem": Ornithogalum dubium, native to the southwestern cape province of South Africa, however is one of the few yellow or orange flowering species in the genus. It is almost prostrate, with 4 inches long lance-shaped dark pale green basal leaves and bears 15-20 tangerine colored flowers a sqherical headed racemes shape atop 12"-15" stems. Best in a moderately fertile, well drained soil, in a sunny location. Cold hardy in the ground in zones 7-10 and planted in cool greenhouses elsewhere. Interest in growing O. dubium as a cut flower as well as a flowering pot-plant greatly increased in recent years. This plant and other new hybrids of Ornithogalum are the result a joint breeding program to improve Ornithogalum was started in the Spring of 1988 by the United States Department of Agriculture's Florist and Nursery Crops Laboratory of Beltsville, Maryland (USDA) and the University of California at Irvine Arboretum (UCI). Much of this work was done by the late Fred Meyer.  The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.     [MORE INFO]