The Orange Star plant, scientifically known as Ornithogalum dubium, captivates with its vibrant orange, star-shaped flowers that emerge in clusters. This striking South African native often prompts gardeners to wonder about its longevity. A common question arises: is this eye-catching plant a perennial that will reliably return each year?
What Perennial Means
A perennial plant is a plant that lives for more than two years. Unlike annuals, which complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season and then die, perennials typically return year after year from their rootstock. Even if their top growth dies back during colder months, the underground parts survive to produce new foliage and flowers in subsequent seasons.
Orange Star’s Hardiness
The Orange Star plant is indeed a perennial bulb. Its ability to reliably return each year depends on the climate. Ornithogalum dubium thrives as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 11.
Within these warmer zones, the plant’s bulb can remain in the ground, returning with new growth and blooms from late winter to spring. In regions outside of these zones, where temperatures regularly drop below freezing, the Orange Star is considered frost-tender. Gardeners in colder climates often treat it as an annual or must lift its bulbs from the ground for winter storage.
Cultivating Orange Star for Success
Specific care practices ensure the Orange Star’s longevity. Providing full sun exposure promotes robust growth and flowering. Well-draining soil is equally important to prevent bulb rot, which can be achieved by amending heavy soils with sand or perlite.
Winter care varies depending on your climate zone. In suitable hardiness zones (7-11), bulbs can remain in the ground, entering a natural dormant period. For colder regions, bulbs should be lifted after the foliage dies back, stored in a cool, dry, frost-free place, and then replanted in spring. Alternatively, some gardeners treat the plant as an annual, replanting new bulbs each spring.
Watering practices contribute to the plant’s health. During active growth and flowering, the Orange Star requires moderate watering, allowing the soil to dry slightly between applications. Once blooming concludes and foliage yellows, reduce watering to initiate the bulb’s dormant phase. Deadheading spent blooms by removing the entire flower spike helps the plant conserve energy, directing it back into the bulb for future growth rather than seed production. Allowing foliage to naturally yellow and die back before removal is crucial, as leaves continue to photosynthesize and store energy in the bulb for the next season.