Sternbergia lutea

Sternbergia lutea is a hardy yellow-flowering Amaryllid with a wide geographical range from the Western Mediterranean through to Central Asia. Its cheerful golden-yellow blooms are a genuine delight in the autumn, usually appearing in September. Its resemblance to Crocus gives it one of its many all-too-common names but Sternbergias are a unique genus and really deserve to be called simply by their own name rather than drawing allusions to other more familiar genera or members of completely different plant families. While the late-winter flowering Crocus (Iridaceae) has three stamens and grow from corms, Sternbergia (Amaryllidaceae) have six stamens and grow from bulbs.

Sternbergia lutea likes a well-drained alkaline substrate that has had both extra grit and limestone added. They do best in a warm sunny aspect and a mulch of grit will help to keep it well-insulated during the winter. They create a welcome change-of-season surprise in amongst the shrubs and under the overhanging foliage.