Allium moly
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AL-ee-um MOH-lee
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Lily Leek is a bulb native to Europe in the Alliaceae family. It grows 10- 18 inches tall and blooms profusely with yellow blooms in a loose cluster in spring to early summer. The gray-green leaves are attractive and die down in mid-summer. The plant has an onion-like fragrance.
Plant in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. They are adaptable to most soil types but prefer sandy loams. Protection from the afternoon sun is appreciated in hot summer areas. Space bulbs 2-3 inches apart and 5 inches deep. It will fill in an area with bulb off-sets and also self-seeds. Deadhead if this is not desirable. Use in naturalized areas en masse for best effect. They can also be used in borders, cottage gardens and rock gardens.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Allium
- Species:
- moly
- Family:
- Alliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Spain to Italy, NW. Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, rabbits, drought
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets. 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Star-shaped flowers are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. Flowers have a slight garlic fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- 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 blue-green flat leaves in pairs are up to 12 inches long and 2 inches wide with an onion-like fragrance.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- 10-15 inch stout green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous through ingestion. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Poison parts: All parts; bulbs, bulblets, flowers, and stems)
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Sulfides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
