Allium canadense
Allium canadense
meadow garlic
- Plant type and subtype:
- Perennials
- Bulbs
- Perennials
- Hardiness Zone:
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6,
- 7,
- 8,
- 9
- Light Requirements:
- part-sun,
- sun
- Height: 8"-12"
- Leaf Color:
- green
- Bloom Color:
- white,
- pink
- Bloom Time:
- Apr,
- May,
- Jun,
- Jul
- Water Use:
- medium
- Soil Moisture:
- moist
- Soil Description:
- neutral,
- rich,
- average,
- sand,
- gravel / rock
- Additional Tags:
- attracts bees,
- attracts butterflies,
- clumping,
- deer resistant,
- drought tolerant,
- edible,
- fragrant plant,
- fragrant root,
- medicinal,
- naturalizing,
- rock garden plant,
- showy fruit
- Description:
Allium canadense is part of the onion genus. The bulb is edible, with a typical onion flavor, but unlike commercial varieties has a thick, fibrous skin. Foliage is grass-like, exudes an onionny fragrance, and appears from the base. Dome-like clusters of whitish, pinkish star-like flowers appear atop 12" stems. On some plants, these will give way to showy fruit, known as bulbets.
- Cultivation:
This is a hardy, easy to grow plant. It is drought tolerant, though it does best in moist, but very well-drained soils. Persistently wet conditions will lead to root rot. It can be used effectively in the front of perennial flower borders, where its low growth and thin foliage will not obscure background plants. also a good choice for sunny rock gardens. Can bloom as early as April and as late as July. Zones 3-9
- Propagation:
Propagate by division when dormant. The seed-like bulbets can be collected, but cannot be stored and must be planted as soon as they ripen.
- Additional Notes:
This edible plant has also been used medicinally to treat insect stings, control coughs and vomiting, sooth eye and ear infections. Is believed to be a good insect repellent, that is if you don't mind smelling like onion.
Map of Native Range
- Range by State: USDA data
- Recorded County Distribution: USDA data
*The map of native range is based on the latest available USDA data.
There may be gaps in the county level distribution.
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV
Classification
| Kingdom: | Plantae | Plants |
| Subkingdom: | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants |
| Superdivision: | Spermatophyta | Seed plants |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants |
| Class: | Liliopsida | Monocotyledons |
| Subclass: | Liliidae | |
| Order: | Liliales | |
| Family: | Liliaceae | Lily family |
| Genus: | Allium | onion |
| Species: | Allium canadense | meadow garlic |
| Synonyms: | wild garlic, wild onion, tree onion, Canadian garlic |
USDA Endangered Status
| N/A |
You must be logged in to post a comment.