Ornamental onion is a flowering bulb in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) native to central Asia. Plant the bulbs 4-6 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade in the fall for spring blooms. They are drought tolerant during the summer but appreciate some moisture when blooming. These plants don't like competition, so don't crowd them with other plants. The large clusters of lavender flowers occur in May, lasting 2 to 3 weeks on 30 to 60 inch tall leafless stems. The basal leaves are strap-like and up to 15 inches long. They bloom when the daffodils and tulips are done but before the perennials get started. Use the ornamental onion in groups or borders in cottage, cutting, drought tolerant or rock gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fusarium basal rot, rust, purple blotch and onion yellow dwarf virus are potential diseases. Bulb mites, aphids and allium leafminer are potential insects. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for the "Plant Identification and Use" courses developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Allium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basal strap-like leaves are green and up to 15 inches long
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Purple flowers are small, 6-parted, in a cluster at the top of a 30 to 60-inch naked stem. The cluster is 4-5 inches across and last 2-3 weeks in May with a garlic or onion aroma, good cut flower.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Hollow and slightly ribbed green leafless scapes (stems).
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia
Wildlife value
Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Not normally used for food but is potentially edible as is most in this Genus
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Small Space
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden