Allium vineale
wild onion
A bulbous perennial to 60cm tall, with chive-like, hollow tubular leaves with flowerheads appearing in June and all parts of the plant smell of garlic. Flowerheads are initally covered by a papery sheath and comprise green to purplish bulbils and few pink flowers. Although some forms have a mixture of flowers and bulbils in the flowerhead, the common form has only bulbils, by which it propagates rapidly. Allium vineale is native to much of England, Wales and southern Scotland, growing in waste places and fields. In southern Britain, it may often occur as a severe weed of cultivated places.
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Pink | Green Grey Silver | ||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical 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
- Europe, N Africa, W Asia
How to grow
Cultivation
Native to much of England, Wales and southern Scotland, growing in waste places, summer-dry grassland, hedgerows and roadsides.
Propagation
Propagate by bulbils
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildflower meadow
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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