(Nodding Onion)

Distinguished by its nodding flower heads and its relatively long season of bloom, this small to medium-sized bulbous perennial is among the most popular of the ornamental onions. It is native to slopes, prairies, and open woodlands throughout much of North America.

Plants form clumps of flattened, arching, grass-like leaves, arising from narrow bulbs with grayish, fibrous coats. In late spring and summer, bulbs produce solitary flower stems, each bearing a domed cluster of 20 to 30 purple-pink...

(Japanese Bunching Onion, Onion-leek, Scallion, Stone Leek)

The fresh savory flavor of scallions tastes even better when they are harvested straight from the garden. Also called Welsh onions or Japanese bunching onions, these easy-to-grow veggies are a must for the culinary garden. They originate from Asia and were brought to Europe in the 17th century where they quickly gained popularity.

These evergreen perennials form clumps of upright scallions with small white bases and upright greens that are rounded and hollow. Their flavor is much like that...

(Japanese Bunching Onion)

The fresh savory flavor of scallions tastes even better when they are harvested straight from the garden. Also called Welsh onions or Japanese bunching onions, these easy-to-grow veggies are a must for the culinary garden. They originate from Asia and were brought to Europe in the 17th century where they quickly gained popularity.

These evergreen perennials form clumps of upright scallions with small white bases and upright greens that are rounded and hollow. Their flavor is much like that...

(Japanese Bunching Onion)

The fresh savory flavor of scallions tastes even better when they are harvested straight from the garden. Also called Welsh onions or Japanese bunching onions, these easy-to-grow veggies are a must for the culinary garden. They originate from Asia and were brought to Europe in the 17th century where they quickly gained popularity.

These evergreen perennials form clumps of upright scallions with small white bases and upright greens that are rounded and hollow. Their flavor is much like that...

(Dutch Ornamental Onion)

Dutch ornamental onion sprouts a softball-sized globe of purplish pink, star-shaped flowers in the summer. The flower stalk rises several feet as the large, strappy leaves die back. This species is a natural hybrid variant of Allium aflatunense, which is native to central Asia. Alliums are in the onion family and thus release the familiar pungent fragrance when their leaves or stems are crushed. It thrives in well-drained, even sandy, neutral soil in full sun.

Plant this bulb in the...

(Dutch Ornamental Onion)

Closely allied to Central Asian species such as Allium stipitatum, this ornamental onion of garden origin bears softball-sized globes of violet-purple flowers on tall stems in late spring. The strappy basal leaves wither at flowering time. The bulbs and crushed leaves give off the familiar "onion smell".

This perennial thrives in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant it in fall and keep it well watered through the growing season. Lift and divide the bulbs only if they become...

(White Garlic)

Grown for its spring display of showy, airy flowers, this bulbous perennial from southern Europe and northern Africa is one of the most popular onions for ornamental use.

The grass-like leaves and compact, triangular flower stem arise from a small, white, ovoid bulb. The leaves appear in late fall and wither just as the clusters of starry, sweetly fragrant, snow-white flowers open. Both the leaves and the bulb are edible. Papery tan capsules containing black seeds follow the flowers. Plants may...

(Garden Leek)

Leeks have a delicate, sweet oniony flavor that cannot be matched, and though they take a bit more work to cultivate, they are well worth growing. Unlike onions, their leaf bases are eaten as well as the bulbs. They are technically short-lived perennials but are grown as annuals. The species of wild leek from which they are derived, Allium ampeloprasum, originates from southern Europe, North Africa and regions in the Middle East where they grow in sandy coastal spots as well as open pine...

(Garden Leek)

Delicate, sweet and lacking the hot acidic taste of onions, Bandit garden leek is a must for the herb and vegetable garden! This selection is much more tolerant to winter cold and frosts and has very dark blue-green leaves. Usually grown as an annual, it is a slow-growing biennial that isn't affected by diseases that afflict onions. When 'Bandit' flowers (in the second year), it produces pinkish white flowers in the spring. Small bulbils form in the balled flower clusters and can be removed and placed...

(Garden Leek)

Delicate, sweet and lacking the hot acidic taste of onions, King Richard garden leek is a must for the herb and vegetable garden! This selection is fast-growing and readily forms long white stems before the green leaves unfurl. It also has decent tolerance to repeated light fall and winter frosts. Usually grown as an annual, it is a biennial that isn't affected by diseases that afflict onions. When 'King Richard' flowers, it produces pinkish white flowers in the spring. Small bulbils form in the...