What is this flower?

March 15, 2009 12:30 PM

FlowerFilter: Can you identify this flower?

These flowers bloom in the late winter and spring months in my father's yard (in southern Louisiana), and he is curious to know exactly what they are.

He thinks they are some kind of wildflower or weed, though neither one of us know very much about plant life.

Some internet searches suggest it could be False Garlic, but my eye is not really trained enough to make a definitive confirmation.

Thanks for your help!

posted by anifinder to home & garden (8 comments total)

Star of Bethlehem?
posted by watercarrier at 12:41 PM on March 15

Can you tell us anything more about it? How tall is the plant? What do the leaves look like? Does it seem to have a preference for sun or shade?
posted by hippugeek at 12:45 PM on March 15

White trout lily?
posted by Stewriffic at 1:12 PM on March 15

Do they grow in clusters like these?
posted by watercarrier at 1:20 PM on March 15

I think you've identified it correctly, anifinder.

Thumbing through this book (assuming we have most of our wildflowers in common), the only white flower that looks even close is the False Garlic. The description reads, in part "Six to twelve white or cream-colored flowers cluster together in an umbel at the top of the leafless, food-long stalk."
posted by zinfandel at 1:33 PM on March 15

It would be beneficial if you had more pictures to provide. The way the flower or flowers grow together, as well as the plant itself are important to be able to identify it as many closely related plant's flowers look the same.
posted by ZaneJ. at 1:50 PM on March 15

Yes, it appears to be False Garlic - aka Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton. Here is a better photo.
posted by watercarrier at 1:58 PM on March 15

Another name for False Garlic is crow poison. (at least in Texas?)
posted by Pants! at 3:14 PM on March 15