Pancratium maritimum L.

It is a herb plant with a bulb. It grows up to 50 cm high. It is 30 cm across. The bulb is 6 cm across. The leaves are bluish-green. They are fleshy and strap shaped. They are 5-20 mm wide. The flowers are white. There are 4-12 flowers in a head. They are on stalks 30-40 cm long. The flowers have a lily scent. The fruit is a 3-valved capsule.

It grows on the Atlantic coast just above the waterline. It needs a light well drained soil and very sunny position. It grows on sandy coastlines. A hot dry summer is needed to fully ripen the bulbs. It can tolerate light frosts. It can grow in arid places.

The bulb has been reported as being cooked and eaten but it is somewhat poisonous. The seeds are eaten. It is used in salads as an onion substitute.

Plants can be grown from seed used as soon as they ripen. The seed should be presoaked in warm water for one hour. Germination takes 1-3 months. Plants can be grown from bulbs or division of offshoots.