Are you looking for a plant to add winter interest to your garden? Then look no further than the orange star plants.
The orange star plants perform well in most gardens, and the flowers look like they are sun-kissed by the sun.
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The plant blooms from early fall to winter, producing large clusters of star-shaped flowers. It makes for gorgeous floral arrangements to give a pop of color to your living space.
Plant Name: Ornithogalum dubium
Other Name: Orange Star Plant, Sun Star, Star of Bethlehem
Native Area: South Africa
Plant Type: Perennial Shrub
Growth: 20 inches tall
Fertilizer: High Potassium Fertilizer
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Propagation: Offsets
Soil Type: Fertile Potting Mix
Temperature: Warm Temperatures
Toxicity: Toxic to Humans and Pets
Watering: Moist Soil
More About Orange Star Plants
The orange star plant goes by another common name star of Bethlehem or the sun star plant. The ornamental plants display flowers growing on tall thin stems among the lime-green leaves.
The orange star flower makes for a spectacular bouquet. It has small triangular-shaped petals with an open cup shape. You can grow the bulbous flowering plant with other garden plants or grow them as container plants.
The fancy botanical name is Ornithogalum dubium, and looks fabulous in a perennial garden. The plant grows up to 20 inches tall with its lanceolate foliage. Another interesting fact is that the orange stars belong to the Asparagaceae family and are native to South Africa.
While you mostly see bright orange flowers, some varieties display white flowers.
Orange Star Plant Care Tips
In warm climates and humid conditions, the orange star plant thrives outdoors in the USDA hardiness zones 7 to 11. The sun star plant also looks fabulous in rock gardens, where it grows yearly from the bulbs.
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Still, if you live in cold temperatures, you can dig up the bulbs to overwinter or grow them in a pot to bring indoors. But the sun requirements for the plant are important to bloom those gorgeous flowers with green or brown centers followed by the seed pods turning brown.
Where to Plant Orange Star Plant
Find a sunny spot to plant your orange star flower bulbs. The Ornithogalum dubium prefers full sun in a raised flower bed or rock garden. So, provide your plant with at least six hours of direct sunlight to see those sun-kissed blooms.
It helps provide your flowers with little direct sunlight in the afternoon if you live in hot climates. Still, please do not choose a spot with full shade under trees or other flowers, as it will not do well.
Signs that your sun star plant needs more light are slow growth with poor blooming, and the leaves start to turn yellow. For indoor plants, choose a warm spot for the container to receive six hours of indirect light with a bit of direct sunlight.
The root system also spreads rapidly, and the Ornithogalum dubium will not take over your garden.
Orange Star Plant Soil Needs
For the best soil, choose loamy, well-draining soil that is fertile to retain water and not get waterlogged.
Provide good drainage in landscaping; the same applies to growing them in a pot. It is best to dig up the orange star bulbs for colder climates as wet soil will destroy them.
For indoor plants, it helps to provide your orange star plant with some sphagnum peat moss with perlite for good drainage. You can mix equal parts with your potting soil.
Watering Orange Star Plants
When you feel the top layers of the soil dry, it is a good indication your plant needs water. When you plant orange star bulbs indoors or outside, they need sufficient water to thrive. So, water them enough to keep the soil moist.
Typically your orange star flower needs watering weekly during the growing season of spring and summer. But if you find very hot summer days, you may need to water twice a week. Also, for overwintering the bulbs in the ground, we recommend watering to keep the soil moist.
For the orange star flowering plant in containers, it is the same as growing outdoor plants. Still, allow the water to drain through the drainage holes and remove it from the catch saucer. Signs of overwatering are mushy black stems with wilted flowers and growth.
For underwatering your Ornithogalum plant, it has a slow growth with yellowing leaves and drooping flowers. Your sun star plant is not drought tolerant.
Temperature and Humidity For Orange Star Flower
The orange star plant thrives in temperatures ranging between 60°F and 80°F (16° – 27°C). It is not a cold hardy plant and does not survive freezing climates. These plants perform well in USDA zones 7 to 11.
In warmer regions, your orange stars will appreciate some afternoon shade. While in zones six and lower, you can overwinter the bulbs indoors in a cool and dry place in potting soil containers.
Alternatively, you can bring container plants indoors for overwintering. Another concern is the orange star flowers are susceptible to temperature drops and are best kept away from ACs, heaters, and vents to open windows indoors.
If you grew orange star plants outside in well-draining soil with enough direct sunlight and kept moist, there should not be any humidity issues. The crucial thing is to ensure the foliage has enough air circulation.
For indoor plants, it needs an average humidity to flourish. Poor air circulation and high humidity make your plant a breeding ground for powdery mildew and fungal issues.
Winter Care For Sun Star Plant
During colder months, you can protect the orange star bulbs from frost. It helps to dig up the bulbs before the first frost date.
Then remove the foliage and leave them in a dark, dry place that remains cool. When spring arrives after the frost passes, you can transplant them back into the garden.
You can leave the bulbs in the ground for mild winters and cover them with mulch.
Fertilizing Orange Star
Your flowering plant can benefit from a high-potassium fertilizer to boost flower development. For the best feed, we recommend one for flowering plants to help replenish the nutrients.
Another suitable option for flowers is an organic fertilizer or digging in compost to boost growth. For potted orange star flowers, we recommend a diluted houseplant feed once a month in spring and summer.
During the winter months, you can refrain from fertilizing and watering.
Repotting and Pruning Orange Star Plants
For indoor plants, you can repot your orange star flower once a year in late summer. Choose a larger pot allowing for more room for the bulbs to grow. At this time, you can remove offsets and replenish the soil.
We recommend removing the bulbs from the container and filling them with fresh sandy soil prepared with peat moss and perlite. Then replant the bulbs at the same depth as before. Water well and place them in a bright place.
The only pruning you need to do is to remove the dead or yellowing leaves. To help improve your orange star flowers’ appearance, you can cut the leaves down to the ground. Once the bright orange flowers fade, the dark green leaves will die, becoming dormant.
Propagating Orange Star Flower
The best way to propagate your orange star plants is by dividing the bulbs or removing offsets from the mature plants in the fall.
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Start by digging up the bulbs and look for the small bulbs attached to the mother plant.
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Take a sterilized sharp knife to separate the offsets and plant them in pots or back into your flower garden.
For dividing your plants, you can do this every six years. Alternatively, you can plant the bulbs in a cool area in moist soil during winter for new growth to appear in spring.
First, dig up the bulbs and look for small bulbs attached to the main plant. Next, use a sharp, sterilized knife to separate the bulbs and plant them in pots or on the ground. You can divide the bulbs every five or six years.
On the other hand, you can collect the orange star plant seed pods after flowering. The seed pods turn brown, and you can remove the pods before it drops to the ground. Leave the pods to dry for a week and remove the tiny seed to store in a dry and cool environment.
You can start the seeds in moist soil mixed with peat moss, perlite, and fine bark in fall or early spring. Cover the seeds with a small amount of soil and keep them moist in a shady spot. When the seedlings germinate, it can take up to four years for the plant to bloom.
Ornithogalum Varieties
While the orange star plant is only one species in the Ornithogalum genus, there are quite a few species you can plant in your flower garden.
Ornithogalum arabicum
This is another star of Bethlehem native to South Africa with white flowers and common names like lesser cape-lily, Arab’s eye, or Arabian starflower.
Ornithogalum maculatum
The plant goes by the name of snake flower and is native to Southern Africa with long stems and orange flowers.
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum @flick
The Prussian asparagus, also known as the wild asparagus to the Pyrenees star of Bethlehem, has young flower shoots you can enjoy as a vegetable.
Common Pest and Disease Problems
While the orange star plant is hardy, it can still become susceptible to pests and diseases. Insects that bother the star plant are thrips and affect its growth. You can hose them down with water.
You will need to isolate your plant and use a neem oil spray to douse the foliage if grown indoors. A common disease is root rot from overwatering your plant. To prevent this from happening, wait until the top layer of soil is dry before watering.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor