(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,...

(Maclean's Onion)

Native from Afghanistan to southwestern Asia, this bulbous perennial is grown for its dense umbels of star-shaped violet flowers which arise on tall stems in late spring and early summer. The long, strappy, glossy basal leaves wither as the flowers emerge. As with most ornamental onions, its leaves, stems, and bulbs are pungently scented.

Plant the bulbs in fertile, well drained soil at a depth two to three times their diameter. This plant likes ample sun and dryish summer conditions. Lift and...

(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...

(Black Garlic)

Black garlic, a bulbous perennial, is grown for its creamy white to pale lilac umbels, which bloom in the summer. Each umbel bears twenty to thirty large, open, cup-shaped flowers on deep purple stems. The flowers emerge from long strappy grayish green basal leaves. Alliums belong to the onion family and thus all have the familiar pungent fragrance when their leaves or stems are crushed. Black garlic is native to the Mediterranean where it grows in full sun and well-draining, often sandy soil.

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(Mountain Onion, Pink Lily Leek)

A perennial bulb that sometimes goes under the name Allium ostrowskianum, this showy-flowered, diminutive onion is native to the mountains of southeastern Europe and Central Asia. Rounded heads of bright purple-pink flowers appear on short stems in early summer. They are preceded by two strap-shaped basal leaves, which wither before the flowers emerge. Several cultivars are available, including the robust 'Agalik Giant'.

Give this little beauty full sun and fertile, well drained soil....

(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...