Ornamental Onion Allium karataviense
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Ornamental Onion:
- Phonetic Spelling
- AL-ee-um kar-ah-taw-vee-EN-say
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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This ornamental onion is grown for its flowers and foliage. It is native to Asia and is found in forests and natural areas. In May-June a 10-12 inch tall stem grows from each pair of leaves with a 3-6 inch cluster of mildly fragrant light pink star-shaped flowers. The basal leaves are up to 9 inches long and 3 inches wide in pairs and often are mottled with purple. The leaves and bulbs have an onion aroma when bruised. Bulbs will make bulblets and can be divided as needed. They can also seed but won't bloom until the 3rd year.
Plant the bulbs in fall for spring blooms in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Plant 5 inches deep and 6-12 inches apart. Use in a rock garden, woodland garden, mass planted or in borders. Resistant to deer and rabbits.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Ivory Queen'
- 'Ivory Queen'
- 'Ivory Queen'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ivory Queen'
- 'Ivory Queen'
- 'Ivory Queen'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- karataviense
- Family:
- Alliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Asia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- normally not susceptible to animals, drought
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets. 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
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers can be lilac to pink in color. Flowers are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. . Flowers in May to June and lasts 2-3 weeks.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- 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:
- Leaves are flat and 6-9 inches long and 2-3 inches wide. Often mottled with purple.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- 10-12 inch stout green stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Symptoms may include: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Poisonous through ingestion. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems.)
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Sulfides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
