Gagea Salisb. is a genus from Europe and Western Asia in the Liliaceae family. Most of the species are small with starry yellow flowers in spring. They have rather long leaves, and you have to let them build up a good clump to get a good effect. In 2025 all recognized species of Lloydia are now included in this genus. See M. Zarrei et al, Molecular systematics of Gagea and Lloydia (Liliaceae; Liliales).
Gagea caroli-kochii Grossh. is a rare alpine species distributed from Transcaucasus to NW Iran. This species has 1-2 basal leaves and a large solitary flower on a short, 1-2 cm pedicel. It appears soon after snow melts, May-June. Height range: 15-30 cm. The photo was taken in the Central Caucasus, Georgia, by Oron Peri.
Gagea chlorantha (M.Bieb.) Schult. & Schult.f. is a common species in the eastern Mediterranean spreading to Iran, Iraq and north to S. Turkmenistan. It is a small slender species with round tepals. It grows in various habitats, often in large numbers, and flowers February to March. Height range: 10-20 cm. Photos taken by Oron Peri in the Negev desert, South Israel.
Gagea delavayi (Franch.) Sameer Patil, syn. Lloydia delavayi Franch., grows in rocky, wet habitats at high elevations. It grows to 20-35 cm with 1-5 pendulous flowers. The photo was taken in NW Yunnan by Oron Peri.
Gagea fibrosa (Desf.) Schult. & Schult.f. is very widely distributed in the eastern Mediterranean and as far as the Caucasus. The species epithet comes from the dense mat of fibers around the cluster of tiny bulbs. They are easy to grow from seed, flowering in 3 years. The flowers close up in dim light. Height range: 2-6 cm. Photo by Jane McGary
Gagea filiformis (Ledeb.) Kar. & Kir. is easily recognised by its 'curly' appearance. This species has a solitary, narrow, basal leaf and a prominent floral leaf which is same length or longer than the flowers which are 3-7 in number. Growing in light woods, often under conifer trees, it tends to form small clumps. Distributed from Kazakhstan to Mongolia and Pakistan. Height: to about 10 cm. Photo taken by Oron Peri in Kazakhstan.
Gagea glacialis K.Koch is a common alpine species, growing in meadows in damp conditions; it is distributed from north-west Turkey to the Caucasus. This species has two unequal basal leaves; often it appears in large numbers near melting snow. Height: to about 5 cm. Photographed by Oron Peri in the Lesser Caucasus in Georgia.
Gagea graeca (L.) Irmisch is one of the white-flowered species, yellow ones being more numerous. Height range: 5-15 cm. Photographed in Crete by Jane McGary, growing in thin turf on stony ground.
Gagea lasiantha Sameer Patil, syn. Lloydia longiscapa Hook., is a species found on the Himalaya and in Western China. Height range: 10-20 cm. This one was photographed by David Victor on 99 Dragon Pool Mountain, near Jianchuang, Yunnan, China in July 2005 at a height of some 3,900 m.
Gagea lutea (L.) Ker Gawl. is widespread in woods and meadows in Europe. It has one leaf and 5-10 cm stems with starry greenish yellow flowers. Photos from Alessandro Marinello and Martin Bohnet.
Gagea minutiflora Regel is a tiny Central Asian alpine species; it is about 5 cm tall, with a solitary flower. Growing in rocky situations, it flowers from May to June. Photo taken by Oron Peri in Kazakhstan.
Gagea serotina (L.) Ker Gawl. , syn. Lloydia serotina (L.) Rchb. is a well known, though rare, plant in the United Kingdom, where it is known as the "Snowdon Lily", as it grows on Mount Snowdon. Height range: 10-20 cm. The first photograph was taken by David Victor in June 2004; the second and third photos were taken by Oron Peri in June 2011 at the same location, Ulkun-Kyindi Pass, in Kazakhstan, at a height of some 3,300 m.
