Bog asphodel.

At a glance

Care level

Moderate

Plant type

Perennial

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 1 to 3 days

Mature size

30 cm

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 5 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently wet as this plant naturally grows in saturated conditions. Watch for drying out of the foliage which indicates the soil is not moist enough. It prefers acidic soil conditions to truly thrive.

Watering

Ensure the soil remains constantly damp or waterlogged.

Feeding

Generally does not require fertilizer in its natural boggy habitat.

Pruning

Remove dead foliage in late winter to make room for new spring growth.

Repotting

Repot only if the clump becomes too congested or starts to lose vigor.

Soil

Peaty and acidic

Soil pH

Acidic

Temperature

-20 to 25°C

Humidity

60 to 95%

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation upon contact.

Pets

This plant is considered toxic to sheep and potentially other grazing animals if ingested.

Children

Keep this plant away from small children as ingestion may cause digestive distress.

Contact allergens

The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

There is no significant evidence of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and has a historical reputation for being toxic to livestock.

How to identify it

• Bright yellow star shaped flowers
• Narrow grass like basal leaves
• Orange red seed capsules in autumn
• Grows in tufted clumps

Height

0.15 to 0.3m

Spread

0.1 to 0.2m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

orange, red, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Root rot · Occurs if the water around the roots becomes stagnant or the soil lacks proper aeration.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Group this plant with other moisture loving species that tolerate acidic soil to create a balanced bog garden.

Grows well with

• Sundew · They share the same requirement for wet, acidic bog conditions.
• Common butterwort · These plants naturally occur together in nutrient poor wetland habitats.

Similar species

• Bog Asphodel · It is a closely related North American species with similar growth habits.

Science

Family

Nartheciaceae

Genus

Narthecium

Order

Dioscoreales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Western and Northern Europe.

Conservation

It is common in its preferred boggy habitats and is not currently of conservation concern.

It is a specialized bog plant that survives in waterlogged, acidic soils by forming symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

bog garden plant, wetland restoration

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it prefers full sun to light shade to bloom well.

Can I grow it in a normal garden bed?

No, it requires consistently wet, boggy soil to survive.

Where the name comes from

The name Narthecium comes from the Greek word for a rod or staff, while ossifragum refers to the historical myth about bone fragility in livestock.

Good to know

• It is a member of the Nartheciaceae family.
• The bright yellow flowers are followed by attractive orange seed capsules.
• It thrives in acidic, nutrient poor soils where many other plants struggle.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs