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Allium ampeloprasum
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

Levant garlic

Blooms in summer with flower buds held in papery capsules opening to spherical umbels of small, tightly-packed, pale purple flowers on stems to a height of around 1m. Wide blade-like grey-green leaves

Other common names
blue leek
great-headed garlic
see morekurrat
pearl onion
vine leek
wild leek
cenhinen wllt
Synonyms
Allium halleri
Allium porrum subsp. euampeloprasum
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to the UK
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
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

Plant range
S. Europe, Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, N. Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow wild leek in fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Add grit when grown in clay soils to improve drainage. See allium cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sowing in containers in a cold frame when just ripe or in the spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Onion white rot and a downy mildew may occur

Get involved

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