Allium flavum L.

An onion family plant. A bulb plant. A very variable plant with forms ranging in height from 8-50 cm The bulb is small,15 mm tall and 10 mm in across. The plant keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are blue-green and 20 cm long. There are 2-3 leaves and they sheath the lower part of the stem. The leaves are cylinder shaped. The bract around the flower has 2 valves and a long tail like appendage up to 11 cm long. The flowers have a sweet scent. The flowers are pale yellow and usually produced in loose heads. The flowers droop but the seed heads are carried erect.

It is a temperate and Mediterranean climate plant. It grows naturally on dry slopes in Southern and central Europe. It prefers a sunny position and a light well drained soil. It can grow on clay soils and wetter areas. It is frost hardy. 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 to flavour salads.

It can be grown from seed or division of the bulbs. Bulbs should be planted fairly deeply.