Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Epiphyte
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southern Africa, South Africa
Types
-
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Number of Varieties
325
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-137-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
10-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm15.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
Orange, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
-
Type of Soil
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Bulbs, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
Allergy
-
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Chincherinchee
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Kap-Milchstern
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Chincherinchee
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
Chincherinchee
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
Chinkerinchee
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
Chincherinchee,
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Chincherinchee
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
Asparagaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Ornithogalum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Ornithogaleae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Scilloideae
Number of Species
50180
1
27800
👆🏻