The onion in full bloom |
Featured
Plants
Return
to list of plants
Allium thunbergii
The
Ornamental Onion
This herbaceous perennial falls under the family Liliaceae. It
has strap-like leaves, which turn an attractive tawny orange at
frost. Its bright rosy purple flowers cluster in October and November
and are the late-blooming treasure from Japan. It grows well with
most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but
it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion
for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other.
Allium thunbergii
in August |
Allium thunbergii
in November |
Just before the bloom |
The plant likes moist, light (sandy) and medium (loamy), well-drained
soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
Half-day of sun is sufficient, however, it cannot grow in shade.
It needs average amount of water and very low maintenance. Over
watering while dormant will cause the bulbs to rot. Its bulbs are
planted in fall or early spring, whereas the seeds are usually planted
in the spring. It will last happily for years as a groundcover or
in front of the border.
The ornamental
onion
starting to bloom. |
The leaves have a typical onion smell when bruised. Although no
specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species,
members of this genus can be in general very healthy additions to
the diet.
The plant can also be used as a repellent. The juice of the plant
is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects
as well as moles.
There is at least one named variety, selected for its ornamental
value, 'Ozawa', which is smaller than the norm. This particular
species can be seen in Mount Holyoke College's Rhododendron Garden.
Return
to list of plants
|
