(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...

(Garden Leek)

Delicate, sweet and lacking the hot acidic taste of onions, Tadorna garden leek is a must for the herb and vegetable garden! This selection is has very dark blue-green leaves and is known for its holding qualities once mature in the cool soils of fall and winter, if not frozen. Usually grown as an annual, it is a slow-growing biennial that isn't affected by diseases that afflict onions. When 'Tadorna' flowers (in the second year), it produces pinkish white flowers in the spring. Small bulbils form...

(Chinese Chives)

An ornamental onion that bears beautiful snowy flowers in summer, this hardy bulbous perennial is a less invasive relative of garlic chives (Allium tuberosum). It is native to the steppes of Central Asia.

Arising from a slender, cylindrical bulb with netted fibers, the semicircular, hollow, edible leaves of this ornamental onion clasp the base of the shin- to knee-high flower stem. The numerous white, cup-shaped flowers cluster atop the stem on ascending stalks, forming a shuttlecock-shaped...

(Hardneck Garlic, Porcelain Garlic)

Among the many members of the onion family, garlic (Allium sativum), holds a place of honor for its essential culinary role. It offers distinctive, pungent flavor in cuisines across the globe. This ancient crop that was first grown in present day Central Asia and India before it reached the Ancient Egyptians through trade and they began cultivating it around 3200 BC. The ancient Hebrews, Greeks and Romans also valued garlic for food and as a medicinal curative.

Garlic is a hardy bulbous...

(Chives, Cultivated Chives, Garden Chives)

Most know only know chives as a chopped herb sprinkled on salads or added to cream cheese for mild onion flavor and green color, but chives are much more than that. This lovely bulbous perennial produces a bottle brush of fine, cylindrical foliage in spring and becomes topped with beautiful lavender-pink, sometimes white, clover-like flowerheads in late spring or early summer. It is a far-flung and diverse onion that’s native across much of the northern hemisphere, so it has been historically used...

(Chives)

Most know only know chives as a chopped herb sprinkled on salads or added to cream cheese for mild onion flavor and green color, but chives are much more than that. This lovely bulbous perennial produces a bottle brush of fine, cylindrical foliage in spring and becomes topped with beautiful lavender-pink, sometimes white, clover-like flowerheads in late spring or early summer. It is a far-flung and diverse onion that’s native across much of the northern hemisphere, so it has been historically used...