Ornithogalum thyrsoides

Native to the Northern and Western Cape of South Africa, this bulbous perennial survives hot, dry summers through dormancy. Its leaves die back after flowering. Leafless stalks bear dense or loose clusters of white to creamy-white flowers, usually with brown or green centers that fade with age. The flowers bend toward light and are extensively grown for the cut-flower trade because of their long vase life. The species has naturalized in Western Australia, where it grows in disturbed sites. It holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It is poisonous to horses and cattle if eaten. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.