Lily leek is a herbaceous perennial bulb in the onion family (Amaryllidaceae) native to the Mediterranean. The genus name Allium comes from the Latin word for garlic. It grows 10 to 18 inches tall in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Lily leeks are adaptable to most soil types but prefer sandy loams. Protection from the afternoon sun is appreciated in hot summer areas. Once established they are quite drought tolerant. Space these low-maintenance bulbs 2 to 3 inches apart and 5 inches deep and they will quickly fill in an area with off-sets. They self-seed readily so deadhead the flowers if this is not desirable. Lily leeks are resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits and can be planted near black walnut trees. Lily leek blooms profusely with star-shaped yellow flowers in a loose cluster from spring to early summer. The blue-green straplike leaves are attractive in the spring but die back in mid-summer. When the leaves are crushed they emit an onion-like fragrance. Use in naturalized areas en masse for best effect. They can also be used in the front of borders, along walkways, or near patios. The showy yellow flowers attract butterflies which makes them a welcome addtion to a cottage, cutting garden, or rock garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Bulb mites can occur. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants " a plant identification course offered 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)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basal blue-green flat leaves in pairs are up to 12 inches long and 2 inches wide with an onion-like fragrance.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Star-shaped 1/2" flowers are small, 6-parted, and in a cluster at the top of a naked stem. Flowers have a slight garlic fragrance.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
10-15 inch stout green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
E. Spain to Italy, NW. Africa
Wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies.
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Leaves, bulbs, and bulblets. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.