Allium aflatunense

Allium aflatunense
	Flowering onions in bloom
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium
Species:	A. aflatunense
Binomial name
	Allium aflatunense;

Allium aflatunense (flowering onion), native to Central Asia, is commonly grown as a garden plant.^[1]

Description

Allium aflatunense is a 36" tall bulbous perennial plant with basal, straplike leaves, and hollow, slightly ribbed scapes (flower stems).^[1] The flower heads are dense, globular umbels, about 4" across, made up of numerous star-shaped purplish pink flowers.^[1] It flowers in May and June, with seeds ripening in August. It is commonly sold as a bulb.

It is often confused with A. hollandicum.^[2]

Cultivation

Allium aflatunense is generally hardy in zones 4–8. The plant is suitable for use as a cut flower. While it prefers alkaline soil, it can tolerate poor soil conditions, as well as part shade (though it does best in full sun).

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Brickell, Christopher (Editor-in-chief),The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, p95, Dorling Kindersley, London, 1996, ISBN 0-7513-0303-8
^ RHS Plant Finder 2009–2010, p68, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2009, ISBN 978-1-4053-4176-9

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[RHS_A-Z-1] Brickell, Christopher (Editor-in-chief),The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, p95, Dorling Kindersley, London, 1996, ISBN 0-7513-0303-8

[PlantFinder-2] RHS Plant Finder 2009–2010, p68, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2009, ISBN 978-1-4053-4176-9

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[2]