Ornithogalum umbellatum

Perennial bulbous plant of the Asparagaceae family, widespread in southern and central Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, naturalized further north. It colonizes dry lawns, roadsides, vineyards, orchards, and open meadows, on various substrates, preferably well-drained.

It forms small low clumps of 10 to 30 cm, with linear basal leaves, of medium green, marked with a characteristic white median line. The flower stalks bear an umbel of 6 to 20 star-shaped flowers, pure white to slightly creamy, with a well-visible green line on the outer face of each tepal — detail visible on the still closed buds that persist at the center of the inflorescence.

Its popular nickname of Eleven-o'clock Lady reflects a remarkable behavior: the flowers only open in the middle of the morning, in good weather, and close as soon as the sky clouds over or in the late afternoon.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from April to June. In cultivation, it generally occurs in April-May.

The species is very hardy and very easy, but it can become invasive through the multiplication of bulbils. It is suitable for flowered lawns, rock gardens, and sunny edges, in any well-drained soil. Plant it where its tendency to naturalize is welcome.