St. bernard’s lily (Anthericum liliago, Sp. Pl.: 310 (1753))

Family: Asparagaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 310 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Anthericum

Vegetable: False

Observations: S. Sweden to S. Europe and Türkiye

Description

St. Bernard’s lily, scientifically known as Anthericum liliago, is an enchanting perennial herb that finds its natural habitat stretching from Southern Sweden down through Southern Europe and into Türkiye. This resilient plant, noted for its delicate beauty and ornate white flowers, belongs to the Asparagaceae family, a group renowned for its various ornamental and functional species.

First identified and classed by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753, a reference to its early documentation can be found in his seminal work “Species Plantarum,” specifically on page 310. The St. Bernard’s lily, characterized by its grass-like leaves and upright stems, typically blooms in late spring to early summer, producing clusters of star-shaped white blossoms that are both visually striking and attractively fragrant.

The flowers of Anthericum liliago are not only a sight to behold but also instrumental in attracting pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which aid in the plant’s reproductive process. This makes it a beneficial addition to gardens focused on boosting biodiversity. Moreover, the plant’s tolerance of various soil types and its preference for sunnier spots make it a versatile choice for gardeners seeking an elegant yet hardy addition to their outdoor spaces.

Overall, St. Bernard’s lily is a plant that seamlessly combines aesthetic appeal with a robust nature, making it an excellent choice for both amateur and professional horticulturists alike. Its historical and botanical significance, coupled with its widespread natural range, underscores its enduring popularity and the esteem in which it is held within the gardening community.

Common Names

Deu: astlose graslilie, traubige graslilie
Dan: ugrenet edderkopurt
Nld: grote graslelie
Pol: pajecznica liliowata
Fra: phalangère à fleurs de lis
Swe: stor sandlilja
Nob: storsandlilje
Nno: storsandlilje
En: St. Bernard’s lily, Saint Bernard’s Lily
Bg: Неразклонен венечник
Ca: Lliri de Sant Bru
Zh: 蜘蛛百合
Cs: Bělozářka liliovitá
Da: Ugrenet edderkopurt
Nl: Grote graslelie, Onvertakte graslelie
Fi: Isohietalilja, Tähkähietalilja
Fr: Phalangère à fleurs de lis, Anthéricum à fleurs de lis, Phalangium à fleurs de lis, Anthéric, Bâton de saint Joseph, Lis de saint Bernard, Petit Lis, Phalangère petit lis, Phalangère à fleurs de lys, Phalangère petit-lis
De: Astlose Graslilie, Trauben-Graslilie, Traubige Graslilie, Großblumige-Berglilie
Hu: Fürtös homokliliom
It: Lilioasfodelo maggiore, Liliagine
No: Storsandlilje
Nb: Storsandlilje
Nn: Storsandlilje
Pl: Pajęcznica liliowata, Pajecznica liliowata
Ru: Антерикум обыкновенный, Венечник лилиаго
Sk: Jagavka ľaliovitá
Es: Cebollas almorraneras, Falangera, Falangio yerba, Falangites, Flor contra la araña, Flor de lis, Hierba araña, Hierba de la araña, Palomino
Sv: Stor sandlilja
Zh-tw: 蜘蛛百合
: St. bernard’s lily

Synonyms

• Ornithogalum gramineum (Lam.)
• Phalangites liliago ((L.) Bubani)
• Anthericum non-ramosum (Gilib.)
• Paradisea lusitanica var. transmontana (Samp.)
• Anthericum macrocarpum (Boros)
• Anthericum liliago var. ramosum (Döll)
• Phalangium liliago f. exilis (Sennen)
• Liliago vulgaris (C.Presl)
• Anthericum liliago var. australe (Willk.)
• Anthericum liliago var. subramosum (Lej. & Courtois)
• Anthericum liliago subsp. macrocarpum (Boros)
• Phalangium liliaginoides (Schltdl.)
• Phalangium lilaceum (St.-Lag.)
• Anthericum liliago var. racemosum (Döll)
• Phalangium renarnii (Booth ex Schltdl.)
• Phalangium liliago ((L.) Schreb.)
• Anthericum amoenum (Salisb.)
• Anthericum intermedium (Willk.)
• Anthericum liliago var. sphaerocarpum (P.Küpfer)
• Anthericum liliago var. multiflorum (P.Küpfer)
• Anthericum liliago f. macrocarpum ((Boros) Soó)
• Anthericum liliago var. transmontanum (Samp.)
• Phalangium acuminatum (Dulac)
• Anthericum liliago f. maius (Bolzon)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Italy (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 12, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 12, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 12, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 12, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 17, 2021 by Jean-philippe Jahier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2020 by Alain Lagrave (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2022 by Michelle Etienne (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2020 by MAURIZIO MELLI MAURIZIO MELLI (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 12, 2020 by etienne copeaux (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2022 by Jan Syben (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2020 by Alain Lagrave (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken May 7, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2018 by Jean-Louis Chrestien du Souchay (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 22, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2022 by Annett Franke (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 23, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jun 6, 2022 by aimy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2013 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 23, 2020 by Denis Bastianelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2022 by aimy (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 13, 2021 by Mila Kralova (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2018 by Meiga Entropía (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2021 by Jose Maria Treviño Ferrer (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2773902)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:530479-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Anthericum liliago L.)

Specifications

Growth

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’]