Star of Bethlehem: A Relatively New Weed Pest

Star of Bethlehem is a weed farmers are increasingly finding in cultivated fields, pastures and hay fields. This bulbous perennial has been sold as an ornamental perennial and has likely escaped home landscape plantings to area fields. Easily mistaken for wild onion or garlic the plant emerges from bulbs in late winter flowering in early spring. The bulbs have no garlic or onion odor and this is probably the easiest way to distinguish from onion or garlic. The leaves are fleshy and dark green in color with a white grooved midrib. The flowers are bright white or even bluish on the end of leafless flower stalks.

Star of Bethlehem control is challenging to say the least. This weed has become a particular problem in no-till fields. Research at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale has shown Gramoxone is the only herbicide that provides 90 percent or greater control of Star of Bethlehem. In this study Roundup herbicide generally provided 40-70 percent control. This weed emerges late in the fall or more commonly in late winter and so control in wheat is nearly impossible. If you have this weed in your cultivated fields the best option is to use a corn-soybean rotation for a few years to bring it under control. In pastures and hay fields there are no good herbicide control options. Complete renovation using tillage or a herbicide like Gramoxone to control the weed is probably the best bet for a severe infestation.

Images of star of Bethlehem

 

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		Matt Herring - Agronomy/Natural Resources Ken Bolte - Farm Management/Livestock Franklin County University Extension Center Last revised: 11/28/05		Go to Franklin County University Extension Center page