Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon
rocambole
A vigorous hardneck garlic producing strongly flavoured, aromatic white skinned garlic cloves. Hardneck garlic have strongly flavoured cloves, often produce flower stalks, but only store until mid-winter, each bulb will yield up to ten cloves
Other common names
hardneck garlicserpent garlic
Synonyms
Allium controversumAllium sativum var. subrotundum
see moreAllium contortum
Allium ophioscorodon
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink White | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Skin irritant/allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Garlic grows best in a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil. If you have heavy soil try growing your garlic in a raised bed or container. To produce good quality bulbs garlic needs a period of cold, so it’s best planted in late autumn or early winter. Divide each bulb into individual cloves and space the cloves 15cm apart, with the tip 2.5cm below the soil surface. Space rows 30cm apart. Harvest from early summer once the leaves have turned yellow. Please see our grow your own advice page about garlic for further advice.
Propagation
Propagate by dividing the bulb into cloves
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly
Diseases
May be susceptible to onion white rot, onion downy mildew and leek rust
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