Gagea spp.

Temperate Europe, Asia, and North Africa

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Gagea spp. is a genus of roughly 200 small bulbous perennials in the lily family (Liliaceae), native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The plants grow from one or two small bulbs and reach only 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) tall, with one or a few narrow, grass-like basal leaves. In early spring they produce loose clusters of star-shaped flowers, each with six pointed segments 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, yellow inside and often green-striped on the back. The flowers open in sun and close in dull weather and at night. Most species are spring ephemerals: they flower, set seed, and die back to the bulb by early summer, spending the rest of the year dormant underground. Many spread by small bulbils as well as seed, forming patches in grassland, open woodland, and rocky ground. The plants are small and easily overlooked, and the foliage disappears for much of the growing season, so they are placed where bare summer ground is not a problem.

Native Range

Native across temperate Europe, much of Asia, and North Africa, growing in meadows, steppe, open woodland, and rocky slopes. The yellow star-of-Bethlehem G. lutea is widespread through Europe and into western Asia.

Suggested Uses

Used in rock gardens, raised beds, troughs, and short grass where the early flowers show before taller plants emerge. The genus naturalizes in lawns and woodland edges that are not mown until the foliage has died down. Because the plants are tiny and summer-dormant, they are placed among low, late-emerging companions rather than in prominent borders.

How to Identify

Recognized by low tufts of narrow, grass-like leaves and small clusters of six-segmented yellow star flowers that open flat in sunshine. The flower segments are typically yellow on the inner face and green-striped on the outer. The yellow, outward-striped stars and a single keeled basal leaf separate Gagea spp. from the white-flowered star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 8"

Width/Spread2" - 4"

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering is brief and early, from late winter to mid-spring (February-April) depending on species and altitude. The flowers open only in sun and on warmer days, closing in cloud and at night. Early bees and flies pollinate them before the plants die back for summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to light shade in gritty, free-draining soil that warms early in spring; many species withstand dry summer dormancy and cold winters. The bulbs are planted a few inches deep in autumn and left undisturbed to form patches over time. Heavy, wet summer soil can rot the dormant bulbs. Most species are hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and need no feeding in lean ground. Because the leaves vanish by early summer, the position is marked so the dormant bulbs are not dug into. Plants increase slowly from offsets and self-sown seed.

Pruning

No pruning is needed beyond letting the foliage die down naturally after flowering, which lets the bulb store energy for the next year. Spent flower stems can be left to set and scatter seed. The leaves are not cut back early, since premature removal weakens the bulb.