Burchardia umbellata
milkmaids
Overview
Burchardia umbellata, known as milkmaids, is a small tuberous perennial herb of the family Colchicaceae, native to southern Australia. It grows from an underground tuber, sending up a slender erect stem 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) tall with a few narrow, grass-like leaves clustered near the base. In spring the stem is topped by an umbel of one to eight star-shaped flowers, each about 0.6-1 inch (15-25 mm) across with six white, sometimes pink-tinged tepals and dark purple-red anthers at the center. After flowering the plant sets a dry capsule and dies back to its tuber, resting dormant through the dry summer. B. umbellata grows in grassland, open woodland, and heath on a range of well-drained soils, and reappears each year from the tuber, often in numbers after fire. It depends on a dry summer rest and rots if the soil stays wet while dormant. The grassy foliage is easy to overlook until the white flowers open in spring.
Native Range
Native to southern Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and Queensland. It grows in grassland, open forest, woodland, and heath, often on soils that are moist in winter and dry out in summer.Suggested Uses
Grown in native grassland and meadow plantings, rockeries, and conservation projects within its range. The spring flowers add white to native lawns and support local pollinators. It suits naturalistic plantings where a summer-dry rest can be given.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'8"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in spring, from about August to December depending on region, and is often heaviest in the season after fire. Each umbel opens its white star flowers over a couple of weeks. Native bees and beetles are the main pollinators.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with dark red centerFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
In the wild the plant grows in full sun to light shade on well-drained soil that is moist in winter and spring and dry in summer. Growth and flowering happen in the cool season, after which the tuber needs a warm, dry, undisturbed rest. Waterlogging during summer dormancy rots the tuber. It is suited to mild climates around USDA zones 9 to 10 and tolerates light frost while in leaf. Plants are grown from seed or tuber and take a few years to reach flowering size. They naturalize in grassy areas where the summer-dry cycle is met.Pruning
No pruning is needed. The stem and leaves wither naturally after seed sets as the plant enters dormancy. Spent growth is left in place over the resting tuber.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons