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| Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. |
| Family: Hyacinthaceae (~Amaryllidaceae) |
| Origin: California (U.S.A.) |
| California Native (Plant List): Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
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Chlorogalum pomeridianum (Soap Lily) - A bulbous plant that forms clumps in winter into mid summer of 1 to 2 foot long narrow strap-like leaves rising from a basal rosettte. The leaves have undulating margins and lie along the ground or rise only slightly upward. In the late spring and summer arising above the leaves appear the long open inflorescences with fragrant white flowers of 3 petals and 3 nearly identical sepals with prominent long stamens that open in the late afternoon and evening. The plant has a brief dormancy when the leaves dry up in fall. Plant in full sun to light shade. Requires little or no irrigation. Hardy below 0 F and can be planted in USDA Zone 6. Found through much of California except in the higher mountains and deserts and north into Oregon on rock bluffs, grasslands, chaparral, and in open woodlands. It is also called Wavy-leafed Soap Plant, California Soaproot and Amoles. It was formerly classified as being in the Liliaceae family, but has more recently been placed in the Hyacinthaceae family and recent DNA evidence shows it to more closely allied to the Agavaceae family. Native Americans used the fibers surrounding the bulb to make small brushes and the juices of the bulb, containing saponins, were used for soap - a practice adopted by early European settlers. The bulb could also be cooked and used for glue or eaten, though only when other foods were exhausted. The name Chlorogalum comes from the Greek word 'chloros' meaning "green" and 'gala' meaning "milk" in reference to the green sap exuded by a broken leaf. The specific epithet pomeridianum is derived from the Latin phrase 'post meridiem' meaning “past mid-day” in reference to the flowers appearing late in the day. - this is the term which also gave rise to our abbreviation "P.M." for afternoon and evening”. The picture on this page from the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council website.
This information about Chlorogalum pomeridianum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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