We had a Memorial Day gathering yesterday and my gardening friends pointed out some plants that I thought were good plants with white, star-shaped flowers that have been increasing in numbers every year. They said they were bad weeds and we should remove them. What do you think?<\/p>\n
\u2014 George Buchan, Evanston<\/p>\n
The plant you describe sounds like a weed called Star of Bethlehem. I have an infestation of them in my garden and I\u2019ve been fighting it for several years, causing a good amount of frustration. It\u2019s an invasive, bulb-forming perennial that spreads aggressively in my lawn and garden beds. Star of Bethlehem starts growing in early spring with narrow, glossy, grass-like leaves that have a white midrib down the center. I find the white midrib hard to see on some plants. The grass-like foliage that grows 4 to 12 inches tall is the main identifying characteristic. The foliage does not have an odor like wild onions do. I noticed them starting to flower in my garden about a week before Memorial Day. The flowers are small and white, resembling a star. Most of the Star of Bethlehem in my garden are about 6 inches tall, and the flowers are attractive, so it makes sense that you didn\u2019t identify them as a problem.<\/p>\n
Star of Bethlehem reproduces through underground bulbs and bulblets. Each parent bulb produces several new bulblets annually, which form a dense colony over time. All parts of the plant are toxic if eaten. Our dogs have never shown any interest in eating this plant, so that has not been a big concern. The best control method for me has been carefully using a trowel or weeder to dig the plants out. When done properly by digging to about 4 inches deep, you will bring up a big cluster of bulbs with the foliage. It\u2019s best to dispose of the bulbs in the trash or at a commercial landscape waste facility. Bulbs left lying on my patio for weeks still appear to be viable with foliage even remaining green for days. It\u2019s an incredibly tough plant. I have tried using glyphosate, but that seems to just burn the foliage back with plants returning the next year. I may not have timed the applications properly, as the herbicide needs to be applied while the plant is actively growing, about three to four weeks before flowering. I think you should work on removing the Star of Bethlehem from your garden. There are many plants with great seasonal interest as potential replacements.<\/p>\n