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Ornithogalum thyrsoides (Chinkerinchee) - Two inch wide and one foot long tapered leaves emerge from a bulbous base with dense pyramidal flower clusters of white flowers with a darker eye that are carried on 1 to 2 foot tall stalks in the spring. These flower stalks are phototropic and bend in response to direction of the sun and dry to hold tan clusters of fruit capsule that rustle in a breeze.
Plant in full sun and irrigate only in the absence of winter rains, allowing plants to go dry in late spring and summer. Cut flowers last a long time. Off season bloom from plants first year flowering grown from seed.
Ornithogalum thyrsoides is widespread throughout the Western Cape of South Africa. The name for the genus is from the Greek word combination meaning "bird's milk" which may refer to an old saying indicating that something is wonderful or rare. There is a Greek proverb noting rare things are as unobtainable as bird's milk. The common name Chinkerinchee is in reference to the sound the dry plants make when the wind blows through the dried flower stalks and it is variously spelled Chinkerinchee and Chincherinchee but in most reputable South African bulb books the spelling is Chinkerinchee. Other common names include Wonder-flower and Star-of-Bethlehem. We grew and sold this attractive plant from 1994 until 2009.
This information about Ornithogalum thyrsoides displayed on this web page is based on research we have conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations we have made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how our crops have performed in containers in the nursery field. Where appropriate, we will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.
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