Pancratium illyricum
Encyclopedia
Pancratium illyricum is a species of bulbous plant
Bulbous plant
In horticulture, a bulbous plant is an ornamental plant, herbaceous or perennial species which produce fleshly storage organs including true bulbs as well as corms, tubers, rhizomes, and tuberous roots...

 native to Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....

, Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...

 and Capraia
Capraia
Capraia, called Capraria in ancient times, is an island of Italy, part of the Tuscan Archipelago, off the northwest coast; it is also a comune belonging to the Province of Livorno. It is 62 km from the city of Livorno by sea, and 32 km northwest of the island of Elba; it is slightly...

. It grows on rocky slopes and sparse woodland areas, from sea level to more than 1300 m above sea level. It is a bulbous perennial with glaucous leaves, 30–60 cm long, 1½–½ cm wide. Leaves disappear after flowering, in early summer, and the plants goes dormant. The scape is up to 45 cm long, and the flowers are clustered in umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....

s of about 12, and are white with a short corona and very fragrant. Flowers appear in April to June. Pancratium canariense
Pancratium canariense
Pancratium canariense ot the Canary Sea Daffodil is a species of bulbous plant endemic to the Canary Islands. It grows on north facing slopes in good light, not exposed to hot burning sun and not baking drought. It grows in fertile soil between rocks and shrubs. It flowers in the early autumn...

from the Canary Islands is very similar. It has broader leaves, longer flower-stalks and flowers in the autumn.

Etymology

The specific epithet illyricum mean "from Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....

", a region in former Yugoslavia. Not well suited as the plant does not grow there. The Italian name is "giglio stella" = star lily.

Cultivation

Easy to grow and flowers freely if planted near a south facing wall. Slow to increase. It is the hardiest Pancratium - USDA zone 8 and probably 7 in sheltered position with a southern aspect. Full sun in cooler climates, otherwise light shade. Propagation by seeds or division.
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