Flower of the Month – November 2019

Chincherinchee

Family: Ornithogalum Genus: thyrsoides

Other Names: Star of Bethlehem

Colours: White, yellow, orange

Availability:  Late Spring to early Summer

What’s in a name:  The word Ornithogalum derives from the Greek ‘ornithos’ and ‘gala’ meaning ‘birds milk flower’ while the common name has evolved from the Afrikaans ‘tjenkenrientjee’.

Why we love it: Native to South Africa these little wonders have an amazingly long vase life! Best bought with a quarter of the buds in flower, Chincherinchees dance towards the light and eventually end up in bloom all the way to the tip.

How to get the most out of them: Chincherinchee will bloom and bloom with very  little maintenance. Here are our top tips:

1. Choose bunches where the lower quarter of the heads are in bloom.
2. Recut stems and place in fresh water.
3. Use a preservative in the water and change water daily.