Allium giganteum Regel

An onion family plant. A bulb plant. It grows to 2 m tall and 15 cm wide. The leaves usually reach 15-30 cm high and the flowering stems are taller. The bulbs are 4-6 cm across. The leaves are flat, wide and sprawling. The leaves have an onion smell when bruised. The flower stems comes from the centre of the leaves. The flowers form ball like heads 10-15 cm across. These heads have flowers which are purplish-pink.

It is a temperate and Mediterranean climate plant. It is native to Central Asia. It prefers a sunny position and a light well drained soil. It can grow in light shade and tolerate hot conditions. It is frost hardy. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

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. A depth of 20 cm is suitable. Plants should be spaced 20-30 cm apart.