Description

Allium – Onion

There are about 700 species of bulbous perennials and biennials, in this genus. Native to temperate regions in the northern Hemisphere and Western and Central Asia.  A single bulb produces clusters of off sets bulbs around it, which gradually forms clumps and range in height from 4” to 5’ feet tall.  They bear bell, star, cup, and spherical, sometimes hemispherical or ovoid occasionally pendent ½-12” wide flower heads.  The linear to strap shaped basal or stem-clasping leaves when bruised or cut excrete onion smell.  They bloom in spring and autumn and some species are edible and have culinary uses.  Contact with bulb may irritate skin.

They prefer to grow in open sunny position in fertile well-drained, weed free soil.

Prone to onion fly, stem eelworm, rust, onion white rot, bulb rots, White rot, mildew, smut and various fungal leaf spots thrips.

Allium giganteum – Giant Allium – This species is the tallest Allium growing to 5-6’ feet tall deriving from Central Asia.  This bulbous perennial with large strap shaped pale green stem clasping leaves 12-36” long.  In summer the leaves whither giving way for dense umbels 4-6” across of 50 or more star shaped lilac pink flowers with prominent stamens.

Zones 6-10