The African Wonder Flower is a bushy, flowering, herbaceous perennial, grown from a bulb, in the asparagus family and native to the Cape Province of South Africa. The plant's basal leaves are narrow and strap-like, with a light green midrib. The flowers appear in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. They are white, pale yellow, or orange, star-like and 6-parted and sometimes with a dark eye. The genus name is from the Greek words ornis meaning a bird and gala meaning milk in reference to the plant's white flowers.The species epithet describes the thyrse-like arrangement of flowers on the inflorescence. Grow in consistently moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Plants are best sited in sheltered locations with a deep mulch. The plant does have toxic characteristics and you should wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. The African Wonder Flower is often offered as a florist plant, grown in containers, and overwintered indoors. However, it can be winter hardy below USDA zone 8 and grown in flower gardens as a hardy bulb. To plant outdoors, place bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep in spring after any threat of frost. Keep moist during the growing season, but keep in mind that the plant does not do well with heavy moisture, such as heavy summer rain. In the fall before first frost, the bulbs can be lifted, dried, and stored over winter. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. It can become weedy in disturbed areas and naturalized in open fields. More information on Ornithogalum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basal, narrow, strap-like, with a light green midrib. Fleshy 6 to 12 inch leaves die after flowering.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long-lasting
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower detail
Flowers appear in a compact raceme at the top of a naked stem, white to pale yellow, star-like, and 6-parted. The flowers have brown or green centers that fade with age. They are phototropic (that is, turn towards the sun).
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Spindle-shaped capsule holds black, shiny seeds of diverse shapes.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa
Distribution
Introduced into Australia and Central Mexico.
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Bulbs are NOT EDIBLE, contrary to some sources
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used as a poison and a medicine.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Patio; Rock Wall; Small Space
Harmful if eaten. Toxic to pets if eaten (dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents). Nausea, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath; pain, burning, and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat. Skin irritation following prolonged contact.
Toxic principle
Several cardiac glycosides and others plus calcium oxalate crystals