Ornithogalum dubium

Ornithogalum dubium, common names sun star, star of Bethlehem orange star, or yellow chincherinchee, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It is a South African (Cape Province) endemic.

The Latin specific epithet dubium means "dubious" or "unlike others of the genus".

Description
Growing to 50 cm tall, O. dubium is a bulbous perennial with 3-8 yellowish green leaves. The leaf margins are ciliate with scapes 10 - 25 cm long. The flowers are borne in winter or spring, in cylindrical to almost spherical racemes consisting of 5-25 flowers. The tepals may be orange, red, yellow or rarely white, often with a green or brown center.

Cultivation
O. dubium is frost-tender and is best overwintered in a dry, frost-free place, then re-potted in spring. The main soil requirement is excellent drainage, with ample water early in the growth cycle, but dry during the dormant season. The plant should be grown in a sheltered spot in full sun. It is reported to be toxic by ingestion, and the leaves cause irritation.

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.