Allium carinatum L.

An onion family plant. A bulb plant. It grows up to 60 cm high. It spreads 30 cm wide. It has grassy leaves 20 cm long. There are 2-4 leaves per bulb. The flowers are pink and in heads. There are up to 30 flowers in a head and they are 50 mm wide. Small bulbils develop around the flower-head.

It is a temperate plant. The plant is naturalised in Britain in dry grassy places and open woods. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

The bulbs are eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers are used raw or to flavour salads. Some forms have bulbils which are pickled.

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of clumps. Bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Bulbils can also be used.