Description
Nectaroscordum –
There are about 3 species of bulbous perennials in this genus. They occur from damp or shady woodland, rocky places, and dry mountain slopes of Southern Europe, Iran and Western Asia. They have gray green, strap shaped, deeply channeled or keeled leaves which smell of onion or garlic especially when bruised and die back at or slightly after flowering. In late spring it bears loose umbels of bell shaped flowers, to 1″ long. Grow in a wild garden or herbaceous border. Good cut flowers.
Grow in any moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. May self seed freely and can be invasive.
N. siculum – Allium siculum – This robust, bulbous perennial from France and Italy grows 4′ feet tall. It produces linear, sharply keeled, basal leaves, 12-16″ long. In summer, thick stems bear umbels of 10-30 nodding, open bell shaped, white or cream flowers, to 1″ long, flushed pink or purplish red, and tinted green at the bases. Seed pods become erect as flowers fade.
Zones 6-10
