Despite it's spiritual name, Star-of-Bethlehem is pure evil! Every March and April, the sweet-looking, delicate flower pops up throughout the beds in Griffin's Yard. I've seen Star-of-Bethlehem sold as a spring-flowering ornamental in nurseries, yet many extension agencies consider it an invasive weed for good reason. Related to wild onion and garlic, it multiplies profusely due to the little bulbs that spread through the soil. It's very difficult to pull and extract the entire bulb system. If I'm lucky enough to lift it out in one piece, the bulb inevitably separates and scatters back into the soil only to return next year in more abundance. Did I mention this prolific garden invader is also poisonous?
Oh Star-of-Bethlehem, won't you please hear my prayers of mercy? Amen.
If you figure out how to get rid of this thing, let us know! It's everywhere at our house. That's outrageous that they SELL this stuff - anyone selling it should be strung up and hung by their toes! :)
ReplyDeleteThe saving grace to Star-of-Bethlehem is that the plant goes dormant after it seeds in early June. At that time, the foliage and flower completely die back. If you can live with it until then, you can easily choose to let it live in your gardens knowing that when the temperatures rise, Star-of-Bethlehem just goes away.
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