Dichelostemma congestum

Common Names

Ookow, Congested Snake Lily, Fork-Toothed Ookow, Wild Hyacinth

Summary

Dichelostemma congestum is a bulb-forming perennial native to western North America, growing as a tall, slender stem topped by a densely packed cluster of 6–15 bluish-purple flowers with a pinched tube and forked crown, while narrow grassy leaves at the base die back as flowering begins, and plants typically reach about 0.5–1 m in height.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained soil, is drought-tolerant, and should be kept dry after flowering; plant corms about 10 cm deep in autumn and propagate by seed or by removing offsets in late summer. It fits well in borders, dry gardens, and meadow plantings, and serves as a nectar source for pollinators, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

24-36 inches

Spread

3-4 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7a-10a

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, preferably light, sandy, or loamy.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Neutral

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Glaucous (bluish-green)

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow, 2–5 years to reach its ultimate height, spreads slowly by corms and seed to form colonies

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, attracts pollinators in general