From the dry pastures and stony hillsides of Europe and Turkey, Anthericum liliago brings an airy elegance that feels entirely at home in a naturalistic border. Its grass-like clumps emerge in early spring and build through the season, then send up slender stems in late spring bearing loose clusters of white trumpets, each petal faintly striped, each bloom backlit by pale yellow anthers. The effect is delicate without being fussy, luminous without being showy.

Patience is essential here. Plant the tuberous roots 2 inches deep in fall or early spring, 12 inches apart, and expect little the first year. By the third or fourth season, the clumps fill in and may begin seeding quietly into the surrounding soil. It performs best in well-drained, reasonably fertile ground in a sunny spot, tolerating the dappled shade at a woodland edge. Rock gardens, sunny borders, and the soft verges of garden paths are all fitting homes for this unhurried, uncomplicated plant.