Ornamental Onion Allium aflatunense
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Ornamental Onion:
- Phonetic Spelling
- AL-ee-um ah-flat-oo-NEN-say
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Ornamental Onion is a flowering bulb from central Asia that flowers in May and lasts 2-3 weeks. It will grow 24-36 inches tall with large, multi-flowered rounded umbels held on tall leafless stems. They bloom when the daffodils and tulips are done but before the perennials get started. They have the characteristic onion or garlic smell and make a good cut flower.
Plant the bulbs 4-6 inched deep and 4-6 inches apart in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade in the fall for spring blooms. Use these bulbs in rock gardens, flower borders or in naturalized areas in small or large groupings. They are drought tolerant during the summer but appreciate some moisture when blooming.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for the Plant Identification and Use courses offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Purple Sensation'
Large clusters of purple flowers
- 'Purple Sensation'
- 'Purple Sensation'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Purple Sensation'
Large clusters of purple flowers
- 'Purple Sensation'
- 'Purple Sensation'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- aflatunense
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees are attracted to the flowers. Deer and rodents ignore them.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought, normally not susceptible to animals
- Edibility:
- Flowers have a mildly bitter flavor and like young leaves can be eaten in small quantities raw in salads and sandwiches or cooked in tea and soups. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Edible
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Purple flowers are small, 6-parted, in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. Cluster is 4-5 inches across and last 2-3 weeks in May. Garlic or onion aroma, good cut flower.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal strap-like leaves are green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Hollow and slightly ribbed green leafless scapes (stems).
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
