My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Ornithogalum

Chincherinchee plants have five to seven smooth fleshy lance shaped leaves and brilliant green stems ending in a conical flower spike of small waxy star or bell shaped flowers with a very distinctive a green or black ovary in the centre of each flower

Detail of my Christmas design: Floral wings with Chincherinchees, passion fruit tendrils, jasmine foliage and string of pearls succulents

Common name

The Afrikaans name is tjienkerientjee (named after the sound the stems make when rubbing together in the wind) Chincherinchee, wonder-flower (because they last so long), star-of-Bethlehem (biblical reference to the Christmas star)

Origin

South Africa and southern Europe

Varieties

Chincherinchee is part of the Hyacinthaceae family and the most common flowers grown for the cutflower industry are Ornithogalum thyrsoides, Ornithogalum umbellatum (has larger flowers with a green stripe) and Ornithogalum arabicum (with a green-black ovary in the center) and . Ornithogalum dubium (cup shaped orange flowers)

Colors

White or creamy-white, sometimes tinted green or bronze at the base with a brown or green or green-black ovary in the centre that fades with age

Vase life

Two to four weeks as a stem but the flowers last a bit shorter if cut as individual flowers

Scent

Strong, sweet floral fragrance

Uses

The white Chincherinchee flowers and stems are really trendy at the moment and is used in intricate wedding bouquets, table centerpieces and flower arrangements. The Flower stalks easily take up colourant when placed in food dyes.

Conditioning

Remove any foliage and place in cold water with flower food. The buds will continue to open. When designing with Chincherinchees keep in mind that the stem will bend up if placed in a horizontal position (geotropism). Parts of the plants are poisonous so always make sure the plants are not placed where pets can eat them. Wash or protect your hands to avoid skin irritation or allergic reaction when handled. Water the plants once every 14 days and let the soil dry out before watering again. Place the plants in a warm sunny position. The better the soil conditions the larger the flowers.

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