Olsynium douglasii 'Album'

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grass widow 'Album'

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grass widow 'Album' RHS

Other common names

white rush lily

Synonyms

Olsynium grandiflorum 'Album'
Sisyrinchium grandiflorum 'Album'
Olsynium douglasii var. grandiflorum
Sisyrinchium douglasii var. album
Olsynium douglasii var. alba

Alpine Rockery Herbaceous Perennial
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A fibrous-rooted, clump-forming perennial to about 30cm withnarrow, grass-like leaves. In early spring produces nodding, bell-shaped, satiny, white flowers on ruysh-like stemsin groups of one to four

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Olsynium are fibrous-rooted, clump-forming perennials. They have mostly basal, stem-clasping, linear or lance-shaped leaves and nodding trumpet to bell-shaped flowers in spring
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich, moderately fertile soil in semi-shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally problem free

Diseases

Generally problem free