(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...

(Turkestan Onion)

The Turkestan onion is a perennial onion bulb grown both for its late-spring to summer blooming globes of pale pink flowers and its pairs of long, grayish-purple leaves which grow almost horizontally. Unlike most ornamental onions, the Turkestan onion keeps its leaves even while in flower. However, all onions lose their foliage in even the mildest winter climates. As a member of the onion family, this plant releases the familiar pungent fragrance when its leaves or stems are crushed. It is native...

(Turkestan Onion)

The Ivory Queen Turkestan onion is a perennial onion bulb grown both for its late-spring to summer blooming globes of white flowers and its pairs of long, grayish-purple leaves which grow almost horizontally. Unlike most ornamental onions, this one keeps its leaves while in flower. However, all onions lose their foliage in even the mildest winter climates. It is native to central Asia where it grows in well-drained soil in full sun.

Plant this bulb in the autumn four inches deep (10 cm) in fertile,...

(Golden Onion)

Golden garlic is grown for the bright golden yellow loose umbels that bloom in late spring to early summer. More than thirty star-shaped flowers emerge on a single stem from and amid long, flat gray-green glossy leaves. Golden garlic belongs to the onion family and thus releases the familiar pungent fragrance when its leaves or stems are crushed. It is native to southern and southwestern Europe, where it grows in well-drained, often sandy, soil in full sun.

In the autumn, plant golden garlic...

(Golden Onion)

Golden garlic cultivar 'Jeannine' is grown for the bright golden yellow loose umbels that bloom in early summer. The flowerhead is larger than the species. More than thirty star-shaped flowers emerge on a single tall stem from amid long, flat gray-green glossy leaves. Golden garlic belongs to the onion family and thus releases the familiar pungent fragrance when its leaves or stems are crushed. It is native to southern and southwestern Europe, where it grows in well-drained, often sandy, soil in...

(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...

(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...